Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1), a 50-50 joint venture project between SSE, a U.K.-based energy distributor and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., Hampton, New Hampshire, takes waste-derived fuels from various sources of municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste and is now capable of contributing around 70 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid, enough to power around 160,000 homes, say the two companies.

The new power station, located in West Yorkshire, U.K. at SSE’s Ferrybridge ‘C’ power station, has been under construction for over three years by Switzerland-based Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), which is the main contractor. Commercial operation marks the culmination of months of commissioning activities to prove the new power station's capabilities, the companies say. HZI has now handed over full responsibility to FM1 operational team of 46 workers who will now run the facility. HZI completed a series of operability tests on July 31 marking the final milestone in the commissioning.

Tom Maillet, director of engineering and operations for Multifuel Energy Ltd., said, “The commencement of commercial operations at the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 project is a great achievement for everyone who has been involved and I would like to thank each and every team member for their hard work and dedication. I would also like to thank HZI for delivering such a high quality plant. We are excited to reach this milestone, and are now looking forward to concentrating on operating safely, successfully and efficiently.”

Franz-Josef Mengede, CEO of Hitachi Zosen Inova said, “Today marks the end of the construction phase to build the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 project. We are proud to deliver a plant that sets a new milestone in fuel flexibility, size and energy efficiency to our customer safely and within the expected timeframe.”

Further information about the Ferrybridge Multifuel projects is available on the website www.multifuelenergy.com.