Small Scale Waste to Energy Plant Opened by Viridor in Exeter, UK

Viridor’s new small scale 60,000 tonne per year thermal treatment waste to energy facility has officially opened in Exeter, south west England. The project is a partnership between Viridor, Devon County Council and TIRU, a subsidiary of utility EDF. In February this year commissioning of the plant was temporarily delayed due to loud steam blows, but in June it began generating electricity in the final phase of commissioning and exporting energy to the National Grid. According to Viridor the turbine produces 3.7 MW, of which between 2.6 and 3 MW are exported to the grid. Recovery Facility in Exeter was officially opened yesterday with a series of celebrations. The Chairman of Devon County Council, George Gribble formally opened the plant with a gathering of delegates from Viridor, Devon County Council, construction and initial operating company TIRU/Cyclerval, and local community representatives. Later in the day the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Baroness Verma visited the waste to energy plant and formally opened the Education Room that has been created to enable schools to view the process and understand more about waste recycling, recovery and management. Deputy Leader, Councillor John Clatworthy commented “With our new facility here in Exeter, we can recover energy from our waste, turn it into electricity, and export it back to the national grid. “That reduces the running costs of the plant, as well as creating a useful form of renewable energy. In time, we hope to use the steam too as part of a district heating network, making it a truly efficient process.” Ian McAulay, chief executive of Viridor added: “We want people to see waste differently and recognise its real value as a resource. Each year, Viridor recycles around 2.4 million tonnes of materials and transforms more into 820 gigawatt hours of renewable energy.” The Exeter Energy Recovery Facility is expected to process 60,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year from the local catchment of Exeter and surrounding area. Read More Loud Steam Blows Halt Commissioning Viridor's Exeter Waste to Energy Plant Viridor has suspended the steam blowing process in the commissioning of its 60,000 tonne per year Exeter waste to energy facility following concerns expressed by some residents. Small Scale Thermal Waste to Energy Facility for Exeter Devon County Council and Viridor Waste Management have reached an agreement to deliver the new £45 waste to energy facility in Exeter that will treat waste collected in the area. Biffa Secures Planning Permission for 33 MW Waste to Energy Plant in Leicestershire Planning permission has been granted for Biffa’s planned 33 MW Newhurst waste to energy facility in Leicestershire.