Company expects facility will power up to 50,000 homes.
Air Products, which is involved in energy, environment and emerging markets, has announced plans to build and operate the what it says is the world’s largest renewable energy plant in the United Kingdom using its advanced gasification energy-from-waste (EfW) technology. The Tees Valley plant, located near Billingham, Teesside, U.K., will be the first of its type in the U.K. The company says that when it is operational it will be the largest of its kind anywhere in the world with a capacity of about 50 megawatts (MW).
The plant will be located near landfill disposal facilities and will divert as much as 350,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste from the landfill per year, Air Products reports.
Air Products’ plant will use Westinghouse’s advanced gasification technology provided by AlterNRG. When operational, Air Products, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., says the plant will offer efficient, cleaner conversion of waste-to-power than traditional EfW technologies and has the potential to generate a wider range of products, including heat, hydrogen, chemicals and fuels. Longer term, the potential generation of renewable hydrogen could be deployed for commercial use, such as fuelling public transport.
“Our investment in advanced gasification EfW technology is a natural extension of our onsite business model. Offering an innovative growth opportunity, it allows us to further extend our leading position in the global energy market and continue to deliver on Air Products’ commitment to sustainability,” says John McGlade, chairman, president and CEO of Air Products.
“The U.K. is committed to diversifying its sources of energy, strengthening its energy security and reducing carbon emissions. This pioneering clean energy technology model is well-suited to these requirements, offering a sustainable solution to the UK’s waste management strategy. The facility will also create skilled jobs in the area and we are hopeful it will provide an indirect boost to the local economy through the use of local service companies, hotels and other businesses,” McGlade adds.
Air Products expects the facility to be operational in 2014.
