News: Sterecycle looks at the potential of anaerobic digestion

UK waste treatment and waste-to-energy company, Sterecycle, are set to invest further in their Rotherham facility by creating a heat and power generation plant on the Templeborough site.

Last month the company secured planning permission to create a biomass plant with combined heat and power (CHP) technology on the site which uses advanced auto-claving technology in the treatment and recycling of municipal waste.

To date, 130,000 tonnes of waste have been treated through the company's autoclave vessels, with consistently over 60% of this being diverted from landfill.

The company recently commenced construction and improvements work at the site and plans to increase the capacity of the plant to 200,000 tonnes per annum, with a landfill diversion target in excess of 70%.

The proposed energy from waste CHP plant would have an electricity generating capacity of approximately 8.5 to 9 megawatts (MW) and a thermal generating capacity of 53 Megawatts thermal (MWt).

Sterecycle has now submitted a separate planning application for an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant which could be positioned alongside a smaller CHP.

The CHP or AD plants will be fuelled by Sterefibre, a biomass produced during Sterecycle's autoclave waste treatment process. Black bag household waste is "pressure cooked" and then sorted to remove recyclates leaving organic matter, the Sterefibre, and a small amount of non-recyclables.

CHP would see the Sterefibre thermally treated to create energy, wheras AD uses microorganisms to break down the Sterefibre to release energy.

Tom Shields, CEO at Sterecycle said: "Pending approval of the AD application, we will assess the economies of both our renewable power options. With either option we intend to enter into a joint venture agreement with a technology leader in that field to develop the infrastructure at our Rotherham site and we are currently in advanced discussions with two potential partners.

"One of the big advantages we offer is a secure fuel supply. As we intend to build the power plant right next to our waste treatment facility, there is readily available feedstock on site with no additional haulage costs.

"We have carried out extensive trials on the fibre as a biomass fuel. They've been very successful and have confirmed that the fibre has a good calorific value with low contaminates. We've had similar success with the AD trials.

"The energy generated from the CHP or AD will supply the national power network and will qualify for green energy subsidies such as ROCs (Renewables Obligation Certificates) and the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. Additionally, this energy will also supply the waste treatment facility itself with all the electricity and steam it needs."

Sterecycle expects to announce the close of another fundraising round in the coming weeks. Funds will be used to complete the expansion of the waste treatment facility at Rotherham.

Sterecycle website

Images: sterecycle.com