Known as the East Midlands Energy Re-Generation (EMERGE) Centre, the proposed facility would be capable of processing 500,000 tonnes of pre-treated residual waste per year.
A spokesperson for Uniper told letsrecycle.com: “This project forms part of a wider vision for Ratcliffe-on-Soar – to move towards becoming a zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands region.
“The EMERGE Centre would be located on previously developed land taking up only a fraction of the power station site.
“This would enable the facility to be developed before the coal-fired power station closes in line with government policy by 1 October 2025, allowing the workforce to be retained and reskilled in the region.”
Uniper was formed in 2016 after a split from utility company E.ON. The plant represents Uniper’s first movement into the UK EfW market. The firm specialises in consultancy services for UK biomass plants and runs coal and gas power plants.
EMERGE Centre
Uniper says its proposed facility would generate up to 49.9 MW of electricity, enough power for around 90,000 homes.
“Uniper’s expertise across all areas of energy generation make us well qualified to construct and operate the EMERGE Centre”
The EMERGE Centre represents approximately £330 million worth of capital infrastructure investment, Uniper says.
It has the potential to create up to 600 temporary construction jobs, and around 45 permanent jobs once operational.
The Uniper spokesperson added: “Uniper’s expertise across all areas of energy generation make us well qualified to construct and operate the EMERGE Centre.
“The project is in an early stage of development and commercial arrangements for the ownership, construction and operation for the facility are not yet in place.”
Applications
Uniper submitted a planning application to Nottinghamshire County Council for the development of an EfW plant in July 2020 (see letsrecycle.com story). It says an application to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit governing the operation of the facility followed soon after.
The Environment Agency opened a public consultation on Uniper’s environmental permit application on 1 March. The consultation closes on 29 March.
Uniper says it anticipates the planning application to be determined in summer 2021, with a decision on the environmental permit expected later in the year.
If the development proposals are approved, construction could begin as early as 2022, Uniper says, with the facility expected to become operational by 2025.
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