Energy from Waste CHP plant, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK
INEOS ChlorVinyls is a leading manufacturer of chlorine and PVC, with operations in the UK, Germany, Norway and Sweden serving key industries around the world.
The chlorine we produce is essential to meet the growing needs and demands of modern society. In addition to water purification, chlorine is used to treat sewage and industrial effluent; as a household and industrial bleach; to make vital plastics such as PVC for blood bags and pharmaceutical packaging; for the production of cosmetics and deodorants; and in the manufacture of electrical equipment such as radios, telephones and computers.
The manufacturing processes operated at our largest UK site at Runcorn, Cheshire, are highly energy intensive, consuming the same amount of electricity as a city the size of Liverpool. It is therefore vital to the long term future of our business to utilize ways of producing energy that are not dependent on conventional fossil fuels, which are increasingly expensive and limited in supply.
Our latest investment at Runcorn Site will see the construction of a £400 million Energy from Waste CHP plant, which when fully operational will produce around 20% of our total energy needs from renewable sources.
Energy from Waste is a tried and tested technology to recover energy from household waste normally sent to landfill. Our plant will be supplied with fuel generated from refuse that has been pre-treated to remove recyclable materials such as glass, plastic bottles, paper, wood, ceramics, cans and metals as well as moisture and other organic materials such as garden waste and food scraps. After processing almost three quarters of the waste will have been recycled/removed, leaving around one quarter that will be used as fuel to produce steam and electricity for use by INEOS.
Developing Energy from Waste is also very important to be able to effectively manage waste produced in the UK and to meet strict EU targets to significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Energy from Waste has strong environmental credentials in that waste can be diverted from landfill to create energy that would otherwise be generated from fossil fuels.
There are over 400 Energy from Waste plants currently operating across Europe, where this technology is more common. In Switzerland for example, almost 50% of household waste is reused to create energy, rather than be put into landfill. The is compared to Britain, where less than 10% of waste is currently used in this way.
Our plant at Runcorn will be covered by strict environmental regulations and will use the latest technology to reduce emissions to well within the relevant air quality standards set by law. These standards ensure that there is no adverse impact on health and the environment.
To deliver this major investment at Runcorn Site INEOS ChlorVinyls has formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (Joint Venture) with Viridor and Laing to design, build, finance and operate the new Energy from Waste CHP facility. The Joint Venture is known as TPSCo. The development is being funded through a mixture of public and private finance. Working with construction partners Keppel Seghers, the plant will be operational by 2013.
Need more information?
If you have any questions about the proposed Energy from Waste CHP plant you can contact:
Mr Craig Welsh, Public Relations & Communications Manager
INEOS ChlorVinyls
Runcorn Site HQ
PO Box 9
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 4JE
Telephone: +44 1928 511528
Email: craig.welsh@ineos.com
