The new U.K. facility would steam heat for the DS Smith paper mill while generating nearly 44 megawatts of electricity.

Wheelabrator Technologies, one of the largest waste-to-energy business in the U.K, has recently revealed that its new waste-to-energy (WTE) facility situated in Kemsley has now become commercially operational, following the commissioning phase in the first quarter of 2020.

As per reports, the Wheelabrator Kemsley facility is fully functional as a combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant and would churn nearly 49.9 MW (gross) / 44 MW (net) of baseload, sustainable electricity. In addition to this, the unit would process almost 606,000 tons of non-recyclable waste generated from the southeast regions of the UK and Kent.

However, the WTE facility is still waiting to attain approval for additional electrical output and waste capacity. The facility would play a crucial role in lowering waste sent to landfills, thereby curbing a significant portion of carbon emissions while creating better use of non-recyclable wastes in the U.K.

For the record, Wheelabrator Kemsley was developed by EPC contractor CNIM and was responsible for over 800 jobs during the construction which includes 46 full-time operational positions. It brought substantial inward investment into the region. Eventually, all of the commissioning processes during initial stages of 2020 were handled carefully in line with the U.K. government’s COVID-19 social distancing and safety guidelines.

Speaking on the move, Robert Boucher, CEO and President, Wheelabrator Technologies, said that the company’s ability to complete hot commissioning, construction, steam export, and grid synchronization to DS Smith amidst of the COVID-19 crisis comes as a remarkable accomplishment and a solid testament to their commitment to work safely. The takeover at Kemsley is a sign of Wheelabrator’s dedication, hard work, and solid partnerships with DS Smith, its communities and customers.

Source Credit: http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/17223/wheelabrator-starts-up-uk-waste-to-energy-facility