Brockwell Energy Ltd. has awarded Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) the contract to design, build, operate and maintain a new Energy from Waste facility (EfW) on the former Westfield opencast coal site in the county of Fife in central Scotland.
It is the first project in the UK where Swiss Japanese greentech company HZI will not only act as an EPC contractor but will operate and maintain the facility on behalf of the client for 25 years.
Neil Young, Brockwell Energy’s Technical & Operations Director commented: “After many years of hard work, we are delighted to have completed the financing and contracting to enable the construction of this facility. It has been a very challenging economic period and we are grateful for the continuing support of all the key stakeholders involved in the project, including Fife Council and Fife Council’s waste disposal business, Cireco.
“We are delighted to have HZI’s broad experience in building and operating this facility. Over the long-term, the Westfield plant will support and advance Scotland and the UK’s network of waste management infrastructure.”
Full construction is set to start in February 2022 and the new facility will enter commercial operations in 2025, where it will generate more than 23MW of electrical renewable energy which will contribute baseload energy to the National Grid.
The three-year build phase will require several hundred construction workers and will create numerous supply chain opportunities for local businesses and trades. Once the facility starts commercial operations, it will provide additional employment through 40 new full-time roles, as personnel will be needed to operate and maintain the plant over its lifetime.
Fabio Dinale, VP Business Development at HZI said Scotland’s drive for sustainable waste management includes clear recycling targets as well as ensuring that non-recyclable waste does not end up in landfill.
“However, it’s important that this waste is also appropriately managed to allow energy and valuable materials to be recovered in the process and lower our overall carbon footprint,” he said. “Modern EfW plants like the Westfield Energy Centre will make significant contributions to meet these vital social and environmental goals.”
To be built on the site of the former Westfield opencast coal site in Fife, the plant will be equipped with HZI’s own technologies such as the HZI reciprocating grate, as well as its boiler technology and state-of-the-art flue gas treatment. These processes will enable the Westfield facility to meet the strict emission directive requirements and satisfy the high demands placed on a modern EfW system.
It is HZI’s fifteenth project in the United Kingdom. Dinale said the UK remains a strong market for HZI.
“We are immensely proud to not only build this project for Brockwell Energy Ltd, but support them through our 25-year Operation and Maintenance Contract in bringing new and urgently needed waste management infrastructure to Scotland,” he said.
For more information, visit: www.hz-inova.com