The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) is investing £28m in a new energy-from-waste plant near Edinburgh, Scotland.
The total estimated cost for the development of the plant is £142m. Once operational, the 14.1MW combine heat and power (CHP) plant will be able to process 155,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per year and produce 94,000MWh of clean energy annually. The plant is expected to be completed by 2019.
With this plant’s operations, about 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases are expected be stopped from entering the atmosphere. Excess heat produced at the plant will be supplied to nearby homes and businesses as well.
Waste will be sourced locally from residences which will be pr-screened in a mechanical treatment facility, where recyclable material will be removed. Only non-recyclable waste will be used in the energy production.
The contract for designing, construction and operation of the plant has been awarded to FCC Environment (UK) by a joint venture between City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council.
Construction of the plant will begin immediately and during this phase, the project is likely to create up to 350 jobs. Upon completion, up to 40 operational jobs can be created at the plant.
GIB investment banking head Ed Northam said: “We are supportive of steps taken in Scotland to drastically reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
“It’s important that materials are re-used and recycled wherever possible, but it’s equally important that infrastructure is developed to increase the amounts of energy recovered from waste that can’t be reprocessed.
“The Millerhill plant will aid that process greatly and help ensure landfilling in Scotland continue to fall.”
GIB siad it is its eighteenth investment in Scotland. The bank had earlier provided loan for the the development of Craigellachie combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Speyside and financed for the replacement of 70,000 streetlights in Glasgow with lower-energy, lower-cost alternatives through a Green Loan.
FCC Environment (UK) CEO Paul Taylor said: “The Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre will play a significant role in improving recycling and reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfill throughout Edinburgh and Midlothian.
“The project is part of the commitment of both the City of Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils to achieve these goals and helps support the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan.
“The project delivers a low-carbon solution focused on landfill diversion whilst the partnership will deliver real economic and community benefits from infrastructure to jobs, supply-chain opportunities and local community engagement.