Image courtesy of Hitachi Zosen Inova
A new energy-from-waste facility in Slough developed by SSE Thermal and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has entered commercial operations ahead of schedule.
The 55MW Slough Multifuel will divert thousands of tonnes of waste away from landfill and convert it into a valuable source of energy. It has a 15-year capacity agreement* which is due to commence on 1 October 2024.
Construction on Slough Multifuel began in May 2021 and was delivered by specialist EPC contractor Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI). Due to its location within the busy Slough Trading Estate, the project represented an extremely complex build but has been delivered with more than 99% safe days.
The Completion Certificate was granted on 22 August which will enable the plant to begin full operations. The facility is expected to process around 480,000 tonnes of residual waste each year, contributing to the UK Government’s strategy to reduce landfill and export of waste.
The steam produced by Slough Multifuel will be reused by a neighbouring business decarbonising its energy intensive operations over the long-term. This important relationship between the new facility and the neighbouring business, a major employer in Slough, further expands the established circular economy on the trading estate.
HZI has been granted a 25-year contract to deliver operations and maintenance at Slough Multifuel.
Finlay McCutcheon, Managing Director of SSE Thermal, said: “Slough Multifuel will fulfil an important role in the UK’s electricity system and help divert thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill. The successful delivery of the project is testament to the partnership between SSE and CIP, which spans multiple projects and continues to create genuine value.
“It also highlights our ability to deliver large capital projects, with this particular project being a highly complex one due to the constrained nature of the site. Working with HZI, we have navigated that challenge and can take real pride in doing so safely.”
Florian Küster, partner at CIP, said: “We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone together with our partners in SSE Thermal. Since 2020 we have worked efficiently side-by-side and we are proud to have delivered a plant that makes a significant contribution to the green transition in the UK and creates value for society, the local community and our investors.”
Daniel Dreier, Executive Vice President Waste to X & Renewable Gas Plants at HZI, said: “To safely and successfully complete the construction of the Slough Multifuel facility brings a great sense of pride for HZI. Our project team, engineers and subcontractors have delivered another vital piece of UK waste to energy infrastructure.
“HZI has created local supply chains and new employment at each stage of the development, using high precision construction techniques, intelligent engineering and considerate construction practices throughout the build. My congratulations to all involved. HZI looks forward to operating this facility on behalf of SSE and CIP, reliably powering local communities and businesses for many years to come.”
* Slough Multifuel received a 15-year agreement for 42MW of de-rated capacity at an auction clearing price of £18/kW.