Walpole AD plant nearing reality
South West waste company Viridor has shortlisted two companies for the process contracts for its state-of-the-art food waste anaerobic digestion facility in Somerset.
One of the biggest companies in the sector, Viridor is investing in the existing Walpole facility near Bridgwater, with final contract selection next month and work expected to start in the autumn.
Once up and running, the AD facility will process approximately 30,000 tonnes of food waste every year, generating 1.5MW electricity – enough to power around 2,200 homes.
It is to be constructed adjacent to the existing Walpole landfill site. Walpole has been open since 1988 and generating electricity from gas extraction since 1995, with yields increasing from 0.8MW pa to 1.5MW pa and fed into the National Grid. The original landfill site has now been restored to agriculture, with only a northern extension of 2.5 Mm3 currently in use.
The AD facility will initially generate around 1.5MW pa through gas extraction, although the longer term goal is to clean up the gas produced and feed it into the national gas grid, or use it for vehicle fuel.
Most local authorities in the South West are now collecting household food waste – council contractors are expected to deliver around 20,000 tonnes per year to Walpole. The remaining 10,000 tonnes is likely to come from the food manufacturing industry, which is a heritage sector in Somerset.
Also on the Walpole site is a facility for composting green waste collected by the local authority from households, as well as from parks and civic amenities.
Initially built in 2003 and extended in 2006, the plant blends most of the 22,000 tonnes pa of green waste with other materials to produce the Revive peat substitute compost retailed in garden centres.
Viridor’s Development Manager, Marcus Du Pree Thomas, says, “The proposed Walpole AD development will provide an essential recycling and recovery service for local authorities and local businesses in Somerset. Viridor is utilising the best technology at key sites like this to deliver more renewable power and quality recycled materials for our customers across all sectors.”
More – How music fans in Somerset benefit from solar PV >>
Call Into Somerset now on 0845 122 2066 to register your interest in the renewables renaissance in Somerset.