Acciona secured the contract from developers, Macquarie Capital and Phoenix Energy Joint Venture and the plant is expected to be completed in 36 months. The construction phase is expected to create more than 800 jobs and nearly 60 jobs during the operational phase will be created.
When operational in 2021, the A$700m ($498.09m) plant will generate enough electricity to be supplied to 50,000 Australian households, by processing nearly 400,000 tonnes of waste per year using best practice technologies and processes.
Waste will be supplied to the plant from several sources including local councils in the Perth metropolitan area. The plant will also be capable of processing commercial and industrial waste and construction and demolition waste.
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority has approved the facility, which will produce ash as a by-product that can be used as road base or in building and construction in Europe.
Acciona stated that this project is part of its long-term investment in the country and will include a mix of domestic and international knowhow.
Acciona Geotech managing director Bede Noonan said: “This is a landmark project for WA and our country as a whole. Waste to Energy is an underexploited technology in Australia, and it’s great to see Phoenix Energy, with the support of Macquarie Capital, developing the first large-scale plant here.
“We will bring the best of our local and global knowledge to the construction, and are working with some great partners who also have highly specialised skills.”
Recently, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has agreed to provide A$23m (A$16.37m) in funding for the project.
The facility will be owned by a consortium that includes Macquarie and the Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF). The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has also agreed to provide up to A$90m ($64.25m) in debt finance for the project.
The plant will see the deployment of Keppel Seghers moving grate technology, which is claimed to be in use in over 2,000 facilities, across 18 countries.
Veolia, which is part of the Acciona consortium that will design, build, operate and maintain the facility. will be responsible for operations and maintenance of the plant.
