FCC, an environmental services, infrastructure and energy group, has revealed its plans to enter the UK wind energy sector. The company intends to invest GBP100m in building wind energy developments on suitable sites identified from its portfolio of more than 100 landfill sites in England, Scotland and Wales.
Through its subsidiaries, FCC Energy (FCCE) and Waste Recycling Group (WRG), a UK-based waste and resource management company, FCC plans to construct 80MW of wind capacity across a number of its closed and operational landfill sites in the UK.
The new electricity generating capacity is expected to add to the 533MW of green capacity that FCC currently owns and manages in Spain and the UK.
WRG recovers the energy from the clean combustion of non-hazardous household, commercial and industrial wastes at its Energy from Waste (EfW) incineration facilities. These include Allington EfW in Kent, which generates electricity for export to the local network, and the Eastcroft EfW, which generates thermal energy in the form of steam that is used by Nottingham’s district heating scheme.
FCCE operates 14 wind farms in Spain with 422MW of installed capacity. The company also operates two photovoltaic plants of 10MW each in the south of Spain and is building two concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in Spain registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Spanish Government.
Paul Taylor, chief executive of WRG, said: “Given the already extensive experience WRG has in recovering renewable energy from a range of waste treatment technologies, and the experience FCCE has in the operation of wind assets, this latest venture is the next logical step for the group. We will also seek other opportunities to develop our wind energy activities beyond the program we are announcing today.
“We are pleased to be supporting the objectives of our parent company FCC, who have made clear their intention to grow strong interests in renewable energy, including through the development of wind and energy from waste facilities.”
Currently, FCCE and WRG are reviewing potentially suitable sites across the UK from WRG’s landholdings, and are conducting an assessment of all technical and environmental aspects. It is anticipated that planning applications for the first wind turbines will be submitted later this year.