Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Project Gets Green Light in England

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--A new multi-fuel power station, capable of powering as many as 160,000 homes, has been given the green light by the U.K.'s Planning Inspectorate.

The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 (FM2) power station is located on the site of the Ferrybridge C coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire, which was closed earlier this year after 48 years of operation. Rising costs, falling profits and stricter environmental rules were cited by owner SSE plc (Perth, Scotland) for its decision to close the 2,000-megawatt (MW), coal-fired power plant. For additional information, see May 25, 2015, article - Rising Costs Force Closure of Ferrybridge Power Plant in England.

SSE and U.S.-based waste-to-energy firm (WTE) Wheelabrator Technologies Incorporated (Hampton, New Hampshire) are behind the new Multifuel 2 power station, through their 50:50 joint venture, Multifuel Energy Ltd (MEL). The FM2 project will process up to 675,000 tonnes of waste-derived fuels from various sources of municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste each year to produce about 70 MW of electricity.

Steve Quartermain, the Planning Inspectorate's interim chief executive, said: "The decision announced today supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate and is the 43rd application for a nationally significant infrastructure project to be examined. A major priority for us over the course of the examination was to ensure that communities who might be affected by this proposal had the opportunity to put forward their views. As always, the Examining Authority gave careful consideration to these before reaching its conclusion."

Tom Maillet, director of engineering and operations for Multifuel Energy Ltd., commented: "We are delighted that the Secretary of State has made the decision to grant planning permission for the Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 project. We believe that the Multifuel 1 project, which is fully operational, and the Multifuel 2 project can make a positive, low carbon contribution to the U.K.'s electricity supply and help to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. We believe that these projects represent the next generation of power generation at the Ferrybridge site and will help to generate important economic benefits for the local area. Following a final investment decision, construction is expected to begin in 2016."

The project will cost an estimated $540 million to construct. This summer, the partners fired up the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 project, with a generating capacity of 68-MW. For additional information, see August 12, 2015, article - Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 Plant Commissioned in Northern England.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.