United Utilities chooses gasification technology for UK energy-from-waste plant

London - United Utilities and Interserve have selected ENERGOS, part of UK-based sustainable power group ENER-G, as technology provider for a joint venture project to build a thermal conversion waste facility in Derbyshire. The energy-from-waste plant is part of a proposed integrated waste treatment facility for Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council, which have appointed the JV to build the facility and operate it for 27 years.

The proposed gasification plant will export some 8MW of green electricity from 140,000 tonnes of fuel produced from Derbyshire and Derby City's residual waste. This is sufficient to power 14,000 homes. The energy-from-waste facility would create 38 full-time jobs. ENERGOS remit is to supply its gasification technology which has a ten-year track record of safe operation in Norway and Germany and is now operating at the UK's first gasification plant on the Isle of Wight.

"Recycling is the backbone of any waste management strategy and the proposed Derbyshire gasification plant would only handle the leftover, residual waste that could not be processed through the facility¹s recycling operation. This is a community-sized solution to responsibly dealing with local waste," said Nick Dawber, managing director of ENERGOS.

ENERGOS which offers a world class, low emission technology and a proven reputation for excellence, according to Blair Marriott, joint venture project director. The proposed waste management facility, he added, "points the way forward for UK municipal solid waste management and is a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to landfill and incineration."

ENERGOS uses its own patented gasification technology an advanced thermal treatment process that converts residual, non recyclable waste into a gas by using the heat of partial combustion to liberate hydrocarbons. Complete oxidation of the gas in a finely controlled environment enables much tighter controls than can be achieved in conventional energy from waste plants  resulting in extremely low emissions. The heat produced is recovered to produce steam and electricity.

The ENERGOS gasification process is the first in the UK to qualify for Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs). The technology was pioneered in Norway where ENERGOS operates five community facilities in tandem with recycling operations and has a proven track record of extremely low emissions. The company also operate a plant in Germany.

ENERGOS, which recently won a British Renewable Energy Award, will start construction of a further two 80,000 tonne plants in Norway and Irvine, Scotland, in 2009. The company has recently submitted a planning application to build a further facility in Knowsley, Merseyside. This would process 80,000 tonnes of residual waste, generating enough electricity for over 10,000 homes as well as producing heat for use by neighbouring industries.