Planning permission for an 80,000 tonne Energos clean energy recovery from waste facility in Lisburn, has been granted by Alex Attwood, Environment Minister for Northern Ireland.
The advanced conversion facility at the former Burn House Rendering facility will use non-recyclable, non-hazardous mixed waste to generate 7MW of electricity. This is enough to power 17,000 homes and could also provide affordable heat in the form of steam or hot water for local industries and homes.
Around 60% of the electricity generated by the ENERGOS’ gasification process will be renewable energy generated from biomass and will qualify for double Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) from the UK government.
Energos are renewable energy specialists and over the past 15 years have partnered with waste companies and industries to build and operate eight small scale gasification facilities in Europe, including the UK’s first and only operational advanced thermal conversion facility. The company has more than 550,000 hours of operating experience over more than 15 years and it was the first organisation to qualify for and claim double ROC payments.
The company is currently building its second UK gasification facility at Glasgow City Council’s Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre and has been appointed as technology provider for an advanced thermal conversion facility as part of AmeyCespa’s proposed Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park
The Energos gasification process is a proven, best practice green technology and a cleaner alternative to mass burn incineration. Rather than burning non-recyclable waste, it converts it into a gas via a finely controlled two-stage thermal treatment process. The gas is then fully combusted to generate heat, which is used to produce steam and green electricity.
Alex Attwood said: “This facility will provide a boost for the Lisburn area, creating construction jobs in the short term and permanent skilled jobs once completed. I am a firm supporter of energy from waste opportunities and of alternative, more environmentally sustainable energy plans. This facility will deal with our waste, prevent landfill and create renewable energy.”
Nick Dawber, Managing Director of Energos, said: “This is an environmentally responsible, community sized solution for local waste that would otherwise fill up landfill sites and emit damaging greenhouse gases. Our technology has the flexibility to accept a variety of wastes to provide an adaptable resource that can cater for changing community requirements over the years. We look forward to working with partners to bring this project to fruition.”
Nick Baston, Planning Manager for Energos added: “As a ‘nationally significant’ project, the Lisburn facility was subject to determination by the Department of the Environment. The planning service has undertaken a thorough review and we are delighted to have been awarded consent for this strategic site.”
