Plymouth CHP plant to open in early 2015

Construction of a 245,000 tonne-a-year capacity combined heat and power incinerator in Plymouth is nearing completion, MVV Environment has confirmed.

The Devonport Docks energy-from-waste plant, which is due to begin operations in early 2015, will process residual waste on behalf of the South West Devon Waste Partnership (SWDWP), a joint organisation that includes Torbay council, Plymouth city council, and Devon county council.

The facility is part of a major 25-year deal worth 796 million, which was signed between SWDWP and MVV in March 2011 and represents the German firms only PFI contract in the UK. MVV has invested an estimated 220 million in the project, with 95 million secured from Defra (see letsrecycle.com story).

Meanwhile, a separate 25-year energy services agreement between MVV and the Ministry of Defence will see 24MW of electricity and steam supplied to the adjacent Naval Dockyard the largest naval base in Western Europe. The contract is part of the MODs aim to green the whole of its operations.

Surplus capacity for the plant is to be filled by commercial and industrial waste contracts sourced from the same catchment area as the SWDWP, as well as further afield in locations such as Cornwall.

In addition, some surplus electricity will be exported to the National Grid, and MVV is in talks with Plymouth city council for the future development of a local district heating scheme for residential housing close to the site.

Contentious

Commenting on how local residents had responded to construction of the facility, Paul Carey, managing director of MVV Environments UK operations, told letsrecycle.com it had been a contentious project.

He said: We are very close to local housing and it remains a contentious project, but these days we get a lot more positive interaction with residents now that they are better informed what we are doing here.

We were recently awarded the Gold Award certificate for considerate constructors in April so we have done a lot of work to keep the city informed.

He added: Construction is proceeding well, all the major elements of the plant are now installed, and we are looking to begin commissioning of the site at the end of 2014 and leading it into operations in early 2015.

MVV Environment is also in the process of constructing a 177,000 tonne-a-year capacity biomass plant at Ridham Dock in Kent.

Situated near Sittingbourne, the 118 million plant will process category B and C waste wood and is on schedule to begin operations shortly after the Plymouth facility in spring 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story).