South west councils secure £230m energy from waste deal

The South West Devon Partnership – which consists of Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and Torbay Council – has reached financial close on a £230m energy from waste deal that it is claimed could provide the template for future residual waste facilities.

The deal with German energy provider MVV Umwelt will see the production of a 25 year residual waste treatment centre located in Devonport Dockyard.

The plant will burn all residual waste from Plymouth, Devon and Torbay and provide the resultant energy produced to the Ministry of Defence for use at the Devonport Naval base.

The Partnership will benefit from the sale of the energy created as well as from a range of renewable energy incentives that include Renewable Energy Certificates, Levy Exemption Certificates and income under the Renewable Heat Incentive.

Bevan Brittan advised the partnership. Lead Partner Christopher Jarman said: “This is a significant and groundbreaking waste project that is a template for future residual waste facilities. The fact that this project combines diversion from landfill with the creation of both heat and power makes it rare in the UK and contributes towards the government's desire both to divert more of our waste and to create more of our power from non fossil fuel sources.”

Jarman added that the integration of the production of steam for heating with the sale of electricity would make the project “highly economically beneficial”.