Covanta, Veolia and Green Investment Group Project Moves Forward : 60 MW Rookery South Waste to Energy Project Reaches Financial Close in UK
The long planned Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility in Bedfordshire, England has reached financial close and will commence construction.
The plant is a joint effort by Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) and Green Investment Group (GIG) which each own 40% of the plant and Veolia which own 20%.
The Rookery facility will provide 545,000 tonnes of annual treatment capacity for non-recyclable waste, further enabling the UK to achieve national self-sufficiency in managing waste and compliance with landfill diversion targets.
Veolia will deliver the majority of Rookery’s waste supply under a long-term contract, with the balance of the waste sourced through other commercial, industrial and municipal counterparties. In processing this waste,
The plant will generate over 60 MW of electricity which will be sold into the grid on a merchant basis, powering the equivalent of over 112,500 homes.
“We are pleased to have reached this key milestone on the Rookery project, which is a major component of our UK development plan and the second of four initial projects to move forward with GIG," said Covanta CEO and President Stephen J. Jones.
“The Rookery project brings into full view the capabilities of our partnership with GIG and our commitment to the UK market, and we look forward to investing in the local community and serving the region with much-needed sustainable waste treatment. Rookery also marks the first project in the UK where we will assume an operating role and we are thrilled to contribute this core expertise to the project,” he continued.
Ed Northam, Head of GIG Europe added: “GIG and Covanta have an ambition to deliver a joint portfolio of world class waste management infrastructure that will reduce landfill, lower emissions, and transform two million tonnes of residual waste a year into heat and power for communities and industry across the UK.“GIG’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a greener global economy, and I believe Rookery can play an important role in helping the UK meet its goal of maximising the value of our resources to create a cleaner, greener, healthier planet.”
Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice-President for Veolia UK & Ireland commented: “Veolia is excited to play its part in this major infrastructure project of which we have now delivered 10 in the UK.”
“We are happy to have been able to share our expertise in technical design and construction, as well as waste supply and energy markets optimization, which have been integral to its success to date.
“Rookery will provide much needed residual waste recovery capacity, the majority of which Veolia will be supplying from its local authority and commercial customers, to create energy for the grid from non-recyclable waste to reduce the need for landfill.”
Construction of the facility will be led by Hitachi Zosen Inova under a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contract and is expected to take approximately 36 months to complete.
Over 300 jobs will be created during the construction period providing related benefits to the local economy. Many opportunities will also be created for the local supply chain with a commitment from the project to purchase goods and services from local companies wherever possible.
Covanta will provide technical oversight during construction and will supply operations and maintenance services when the project commences operations in 2022.
Read More
2011 -65 MW Waste to Energy Facility Gets Thumbs Up from IFC
The Infrastructure Planning Commission has made the decision to give consent to the 65 MW Covanta Rookery South waste to energy development.
2014 - High Court Backs Covanta’s 65 MW Rookery South Waste to Energy Project
A High Court judge has dismissed a judicial review of the Development Consent Order for Covantas 65 MW waste to energy and material recycling facility at a former brick clay extraction pit, near Stewartby in Bedfordshire.
2016 - Covanta & Veolia Join Forces on 50MW UK Waste to Energy Plant
New Jersey based waste to energy firm, Covanta and French environmental series company, Veolia are joining forces, to develop the 50 MW Energy Recovery Facility at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby, Bedfordshire, UK.