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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Tees Valley Renewable Energy Facility Receives Planning Permission

Tees Valley Renewable Energy Facility Receives Planning Permission

12 August 2011

Air Products has secured planning permission from Stockton on Tees Borough Council for its Tees Valley Renewable Energy Facility

The facility is the first of a number of energy from waste plants that Air Products will be looking to develop in the UK over the next few years but the go-ahead still remains subject to Government funding.

The advanced gasification energy from waste (EfW) scheme, located at the New Energy and Technology Business Park, near Billingham, Teesside will convert pre-processed household and commercial waste currently going to landfill into baseload, renewable power for up to 50,000 homes in the North East. Producing 49MW of electricity from about 300,000 tonnes of waste, the facility is one of the largest advanced gasification projects planned for the UK.

Ian Williamson, European Hydrogen and Bioenergy Director at Air Products said: "We're really pleased to have secured Stockton Council's approval for our first energy from waste project in the UK. Our facility will be using the latest and most advanced gasification technology to generate renewable power and at the same time, contribute towards Stockton Council's environment, energy and economic investment objectives."

Subject to the financing of the project given current support mechanisms and securing environmental permitting consent from the Environment Agency, work on site could start next year, with commercial operations starting in 2014.

"Air Products, along with our technology partner, AlterNRG, see Tees Valley as the first of a number of advanced gasification facilities that we wish to develop in the UK. The UK is seeking more sustainable ways to manage and dispose of its waste, and is looking to diversify its sources of electricity generation: our technology is able to deliver on both counts" commented Ian, "In the longer-term, our technology can also produce renewable hydrogen and is being considered for a demonstration of Waste2Tricity's fuel cell technology. So our renewable energy facility could also play a part in the further development of the hydrogen economy, an area in which Air Products already has considerable experience."

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: "I welcome the progress that Air Products has made with its project to bring advanced gasification to the UK. Energy from waste leads to considerable reductions in waste going into landfill, and makes an important contribution to the UK's low-carbon energy supply. This new technology will be an exciting addition to the energy from waste sector and I look forward to seeing the announcement of more of these projects."

Darrel Moore