This achievement represents a key milestone in the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) competition, to design the most cost-effective, economically viable and efficient commercial energy from waste demonstrator plant possible. In being awarded planning permission, the project has received the support of the community and Birmingham City Council.
Following planning being granted, the design phase of the project will come to a close in early 2014. This will be followed by the construction phase.
The ETI has selected three companies that are competing to design and develop a plant to demonstrate the maximum possible efficiencies, higher than previously produced in the industry, for plants operating at commercial scale. The winning plant could be designed, built, tested and in operation by 2015.
APP’s Gasplasma® technology is a unique combination of two proven commercial processes – gasification and plasma treatment – to produce a very clean syngas that can efficiently generate energy with minimal visual and environmental impact. It provides a step change in the provision of waste to energy technology and, with wider adoption, could deliver a significant amount of the UK’s energy needs.
The Gasplasma® plant’s feedstock – residual household and commercial black-bag waste – will be sourced from the local waste companies, turning waste that would have otherwise been destined for landfill into renewable power. Furthermore, the excess heat generated by the process is available to be exported to local heat users. The plant will provide residents in the Birmingham area with a sustainable means of waste disposal in return for renewable heat and power. Furthermore the plant’s operation is expected to create in excess of 30 permanent jobs in an area earmarked for economic development. This project builds on APP’s operating experience at its demonstration plant in Swindon that has achieved high levels of efficiency consistently with all types of feedstock.
Rolf Stein, CEO of Advanced Plasma Power stated: "Securing planning permission is an important step in moving forward with the ETI competition. This project will enable us to further demonstrate that our technology is highly-efficient, cost-effective and a green alternative to power generation that can reduce carbon emissions, keep energy costs low for consumers and divert waste from landfill."
