3NRG has become the first company in the UK to acquire the necessary regulatory licences to operate an integrated mechanical heat treatment with power plant at Tythegston, Bridgend in Wales which will generate enough electricity to supply its own needs and that of approximately 4000 homes.
Employing a unique combination of steam treatment of solid waste, the recovery of materials for recycling such as plastics, metals and glass, the remaining biomass, derived from the paper, cardboard and food residues, is put through a process known as pyrolysis to produce a gas. This gas is used to create steam, which in turn drives an electricity generating turbine. The 4MW of surplus electricity generated is fed to the national grid.
A pilot project has been running for some time at the 3.5 acre Tythegston former landfill site, which was licensed for waste processing but has now been given the green light for the construction of a £25 million integrated waste processing – electricity generating plant due for completion by early 2010.
South Coast Law Firm, Lester Aldridge LLP, acted on behalf of 3NRG. LA Corporate partner, David Ashplant, who led the team at LA commented: “We are thrilled to have been involved with this project which will have such significant benefits for South Wales and other areas of the country as further plants are built.”
Michael Flynn, chief executive and founder of FLI Environmental says; “We expect to build ten such plants in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland over the next decade as we believe that this is the cleanest and most environmentally sustainable solution to processing residual solid municipal waste.”
The system recycles or reuses 95% of solid waste, waste which would otherwise have been sent to landfill.
3NRG’s Business Development Director, Michael Geary comments that “Bridgend is ideally located to serve both Cardiff and Swansea and is conveniently accessed from the M4 motorway. The facility will provide a very competitive waste processing service for local authorities and private waste contractors in the South Wales region and will be of enormous benefit in helping them to meet their targets for diverting waste from landfill.”
Source: recyclingnewsportal.com
