The start of hot commissioning will see engineers progressively energise and test the plant’s electrical and mechanical systems, ensuring they operate safely and effectively ahead of the first deliveries of waste.
The phase follows the near-completion of physical construction, which was build and commissioned by Mytilineos Energy and Metals, and is a precursor to first fire on waste and the subsequent export of electricity to the grid.
Chief Executive of Encyclis Mark Burrows-Smith commented: “We are delighted to enter the next phase of development at Protos with completion now in sight.”
Protos energy recovery and carbon capture
Once fully operational, the Protos ERF is expected be capable of processing up to 500,000 tonnes of residual waste each year.
The facility is designed to generate continuous baseload electricity equivalent to the needs of around 75,000 homes, while also recovering metals and aggregates for reuse.
Protos ERF forms part of Encyclis’ wider portfolio in the Midlands and surrounding regions, alongside Rookery South ERF and Newhurst ERF.
The company said that the Cheshire facility will provide additional capacity for the treatment of non-recyclable waste within the region.
The site is also intended to play a role in industrial decarbonisation. Work is underway on adjoining land to construct a carbon capture plant, which aims to separate an estimated 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from the facility’s flue gases.
The captured carbon dioxide is planned to be transported by pipeline for secure geological storage in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West cluster.
If delivered as planned, the project is expected to make Protos the first fully decarbonised Energy from Waste (EfW) facility in the UK.
40 personnel recruited
In preparation for operations, Encyclis has recruited more than 40 operations and maintenance personnel.
The workforce includes four apprentices appointed through the company’s regional apprenticeship programme, aimed at supporting longer-term skills development in the sector.
Burrows-Smith added: “Once operational, this essential infrastructure will provide a critical service to the region while our landmark carbon capture project will support the UK’s carbon reduction targets.
“The progress we’ve made is a tribute to our teams and we are pleased to be recruiting skilled people from the local area and creating future career opportunities for apprentices.”
The project gained backing from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) that confirmed support for the company’s Protos carbo capture and storage project in September 2025.
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