Plevin is making final adjustments to its 5 million waste wood recovery facility in Hazlehead, South Yorkshire, with full operations at the site expected to start in the coming weeks.
Described as the UKs largest waste wood recovery centre, the 50-acre site will process up to 150,000 tonnes of waste wood each year.
The site was hit by a fire in April, with fire crews attending after a small amount of smouldering was discovered in a processed wood pile during routine checks (see letsrecycle.com story).
The facility will primarily manufacture biomass as part of its 25-year contract as the sole supplier of fuel for energy giant E.ONs 120 million energy plant near Sheffield.
Currently under construction at Blackburn Meadows, E.ONs 180,000 tonnes per year capacity biomass facility is expected to open later this year perhaps as early as this summer (see letsrecycle.com story).
The site first began receiving waste wood 12 months ago, with the biomass production undergoing commissioning in preparation for the E.ON contract, which Plevin described as the most lucrative contract in its history upon signing the deal in 2011.
Plevin said it worked with equipment manufacturer Vecoplan AG to develop a bespoke facility capable of processing up to eight tonnes of wood per hour.
‘Despite a number of challenges, were pleased to see work progressing at Hazlehead and are delighted that our new facility will be a key part in creating greener, renewable energy from a product that would otherwise have been sent to landfill.’
Jamie Plevin, managing director at Plevin
In addition, Plevin has invested 500,000 in 10 walking floor trailers with the capacity to hold up to 25% more wood than the existing trailers. This enables staff to make fewer journeys and is expected to save more than 330,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
According to the company, the facility has created 20 jobs with plans for further recruitment in future.
Jamie Plevin, managing director of Plevin, said: Despite a number of challenges, were pleased to see work progressing at Hazlehead and are delighted that our new facility will be a key part in creating greener, renewable energy from a product that would otherwise have been sent to landfill.
Plevin
Set up in 1973 in Manchester, Plevin employs 170 people across six sites in the UK Mossley, Greater Manchester; Elkesley, Nottinghamshire; Boston, Lincolnshire; Newport, South Wales; Kings Lynn, Norfolk and Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.
The company collects, processes and distributes around 600,000 tonnes of wood annually, manufacturing a range of wood-based products from virgin and waste wood materials sourced from council civic amenity sites, skip hire firms, pallet manufacturers and joinery workshops.
The company is also currently planning to construct its own biomass combined heat and power plant in Elkesley, Nottinghamshire (see letsrecycle.com story).
Subscribe for free