The Drakelow Energy from Waste plant has been designed by the Vital Energi team and will be built, owned and operated by the Vital Energi Group. In addition to generating 18MWe of low-carbon electricity, the facility will also make a valuable contribution to diverting waste from landfill withthe capability of processing 169,000 tons of non-recyclable RDF each year.
Vital Energi is investing its own technical and financial resources into this facility with the balance of the investment being provided from external funding sources.
Ashley Malin, Vital Energi’s project development director explains, “The UK faces many environmental challenges and this facility is an exciting opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and divert waste from landfill. We are extremely excited to be delivering and operating this facility, which will make a positive contribution to the UK’s low-carbon infrastructure.”
The Beauparc Group has been awarded the exclusive fuel supply agreement and will supply Vital Energi with 169,000 tons of refuse derived fuel over the long-term supply contract. Beauparc Group is the leading producer and exporter of RDF and SRF in the UK and Ireland, supplying over 1.3m tons annually to contracts throughout Ireland, the UK, European and worldwide markets. Beauparc supports the production of RDF and SRF through the annual collection and treatment of 4 million tons of waste from their network of waste management sites.
The RDF is combusted, and the syngas produced during this process is then consumed by the boiler to create steam which then drives the 18MWe steam turbine which generates electricity. An additional benefit of the project is that Vital Energi has designed the facility so that the heat generated can be used to provide heat and hot water for nearby developments should demand arise.
The new energy from waste facility is scheduled to be completed by 2023 and Vital Energi will have a 30-year concession to operate the facility.
Caption: The Drakelow Energy from Waste Plant will generate 18MWe of low-carbon electricity and is scheduled for completion by 2023.
