Suez to supply waste to three Wheelabrator plants

The partnership will see Suez supply Wheelabrator’s proposed facilities at Multifuel Energy Limited Skelton Grange in Leeds, Wheelabrator Kelvin in West Bromwich, and Wheelabrator Kemsley North in Kent with more than 500,000 tonnes per year of residual waste.

Combined, the plants will have the capacity to process 1.16 million tonnes of waste per annum.

The deal comes after Suez also won a contract to supply Wheelabrator’s other Kemsley plant, which will supplies heat to the neighbouring DS Smith Kemsley paper mill (see letsrecycle.com story).

Suez says it currently diverts in excess of two million tonnes per year of residual waste away from landfill and this agreement “positions the UK business for long-term growth”.

John Scanlon, chief executive of Suez recycling and recovery UK, said: “We are pleased to build on our partnership with Wheelabrator UK with this suite of new supply contracts. Enhancing our network of facilities around the UK is essential to providing our customers with solutions for their waste that avoid landfill and create value from the materials they are unable to recycle.

“Supplying Wheelabrator UK’s new facilities as they come online will provide us with resilience and the ability to meet our customers’ current and future needs, and to promote the long-term growth of our activities.”

Plants

Wheelabrator says it  expects to have all three facilities fully operational by 2024/25, with Multifuel Energy Limited Skelton Grange and Wheelabrator Kelvin already benefiting from planning permissions and environmental permits.

“Supplying Wheelabrator UK’s new facilities will provide us with resilience and the ability to meet our customers’ needs”

John Scanlon, chief executive of Suez UK

Wheelabrator Kemsley North is “in the process” of securing a development consent order, with a decision expected in February and an environmental permit expected “in the second quarter”.

Wheelabrator says all three facilities will operate at “high electrical efficiencies with high potential for heat supply”, adding they will collectively export 117MW (net) energy, enough to power 288,000 homes.

Commitment

Julia Watsford, managing director of Wheelabrator UK, said: “We welcome the long-term partnership with Suex to supply our three new waste-to-energy facilities which will commence construction in 2021.

“The Suez waste supply agreements are a testament to the commitment of our team members and partners to make a difference and provide sustainable waste management infrastructure for the UK.

“I would like to thank Wheelabrator UK and Suez for continuing to work diligently and safely during coronavirus to ensure we remain on track to deliver these projects and support the green recovery in the UK.”