Energy Works (Hull) has selected a joint venture partnership of MWH Treatment and Spencer Group as preferred bidder to design, build and operate a £150m waste to energy plant in the UK.

MWH and Spencer will deliver the first phase of the development with construction scheduled to start early in 2015 and complete by March 2017.

Phase one of the development will feature an energy recovery facility that will generate 28MW of electricity by an advanced gasification process.

The facility will provide enough electricity to power 43,000 homes, by processing materials which would otherwise be sent to landfill, while also reducing dependency upon imported fossil fuels.

The second phase of the scheme will feature an anaerobic digestion plant and materials processing facilities.

Energy Works project director Phil Morland said MWH and Spencer are a good fit, with complementary capabilities, and offer the ideal partnership to deliver the project.

"This is another major milestone for Energy Works, following securing planning permission, a £19.9 million capital grant, and a grid connection agreement," Morland said.

Energy Works is in advanced negotiations with feedstock suppliers and has appointed BDO as financial advisor.