Construction work is about to start on a waste to energy plant in Northwich that will use a new enzyme-based process to convert waste to gas. The gas will be used to generate electricity and the site should produce 5MW.
The Dong Energy plant will use a process dubbed REnescience, which was developed by the company and has been tested at a demonstration plant in Copenhagen since 2009. The plant, due to go into operation in 2017, will accept 120,000t of unsorted household waste annually. The resulting gas will be burned in gas engines to generate power. As an advanced waste treatment plant the project will qualify for support under the Renewables Obligation. It was granted planning permission by Cheshire West and Chester council at the beginning of February.
Brent Cheshire, Dong Energy’s UK chairman, said: “The REnescience plant in Northwich will be able to receive unsorted household waste, which – through enzyme treatment – will be converted into biogas as well as recyclable plastics and metals.”
The waste will be supplied by the UK waste management company FCC Environment, which already collects household waste in the Northwich region.
For more on Dong Energy in the UK see:
Dong seeks to cut balancing exposure
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