An 85 million energy-from-waste (EfW) gasification plant in East Belfast has been granted planning permission by Northern Ireland environment minister Mark Durkan, it was announced today (January 6).
The plant will convert around 120,000 tonnes per year of refuse derived fuel (RDF) from commercial and industrial waste sources into electricity and heat for the use of transport engineering firm Bombardier Aerospace and other nearby commercial properties.
Situated adjacent to Bombardiers factory on the Belfast Harbour Estate, the plant will use a gasification process to heat waste to produce a synthetic gas fuel, which is then used to produce steam to generate electricity.
A spokeswoman for Bombardier said the firm was currently having confidential ongoing discussions with an unnamed energy consortium, which will construct, operate and own the plant.
The spokeswoman added that it was too early to confirm any contracts for the plants feedstock, but that the facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016.
Decision
According to the Department of the Environment (DOENI), due to the large scale of the plant the minister Mark H Durkan had to make the final planning decision, although no letters of objection to the development were received.
‘While I am keen to increase the amount of waste which is recycled, there is still a need for facilities to deal with waste that is not recyclable.’
NI environment minister, Mark H Durkan
Mr Durkan said: This is good news for Bombardiers workforce of 6,000. The new plant will help Bombardier to reduce electricity costs, maintain its competiveness within international markets and safeguard employment.
He added: While I am keen to increase the amount of waste which is recycled, there is still a need for facilities to deal with waste that is not recyclable. I recognise the need for energy-from-waste opportunities and of alternative, more environmentally sustainable energy plans. This facility will draw value from waste which cannot be recycled, preventing it going to landfill and instead will use it to generate energy.
This proposal is a win for the environment and a win for the economy and achieves the right balance in planning terms.
Jobs
The development will also create up to 130 construction jobs in the short term and around 20 permanent skilled jobs once completed, the DOENI said.
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Mr Durkan concluded: My aim as Environment Minister is to build a better environment and a stronger economy. This decision, an important boost for one of our leading businesses, will help do that.
In November 2013, Bombardier also revealed that it had secured planning permission for a combined heat and power plant close to Belfast in Newtonabbey and is seeking anaerobic digestion-sourced biogas for the facility (see letsrecycle.com story).
Headquartered in Canada, the firm designs and manufactures aeroplanes and trains, employing more than 70,000 staff worldwide.
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