Danish Power Plant specialist, Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC) has been awarded a Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract for the waste-to-energy plant, Hooton Bio Power Resource Recovery Centre Project in the UK. BWSC shall furthermore operate the facility under a 15 years Operation & Maintenance contract.

The Hooton Bio Power facility will be the first non-subsidised merchant gasification facility in the UK and it is the first time the UK market will realise a gasification plant of this size, based on fluidised bed technology provided by Japanese Kobelco Eco Solution.

Collaboration between BWSC, CoGen, Peel Environmental, N+P Group, Kobelco Eco Solutions, local authorities and strong financing partners secures this impressive waste gasification plant in North West England.

Nikolaj Holmer Nissen, newly appointed CEO at BWSC, says:

“Determined and constructive cooperation has brought this important waste gasification project over the finishing line. The plant will add to the extensive experience BWSC has obtained in the UK market - experience that will help pave the way for successful project implementation. The Hooton Bio Power Ltd is a good example of BWSC constantly striving to develop new and more energy efficient solutions for the benefit of our customers and the environment.”

The project is backed by solid UK investors and is in line with the UK target of delivering efficient and environmentally friendly energy, while reducing landfill by 10% by 2020. BWSC has an extensive list of UK-based projects, having built nine biomass-fuelled power facilities in the UK, most of which it also operates.

The Hooton facility will gasify some 240,000 tonnes of waste per year, generating in excess of 200 GWh of electricity annually. The facility is expected to be operational in the second half of 2021.

Around 350 jobs will be associated with the construction stage at its peak, and the ongoing operation of the facility will generate up to 30 permanent positions.