Construction completed on the Westfield Energy Recovery Facility – plant handed over for operations
Kanadevia inova completes construction on new waste-to-energy facility with its operations team set to deliver major landfill diversion and environmental benefits in fife
Fife, Scotland, UK: Kanadevia Inova (formerly Hitachi Zosen Inova) is proud to announce the successful completion of the construction and commissioning phases on the Westfield Energy Recovery Facility (WERF). With the handover to the plant’s owners, Viridor and Equitix, the Kanadevia Inova operations team will now lead the day-to-day management of the plant under a long-term operations and maintenance contract on behalf of the dedicated project company –Westfield Energy Recovery Limited (WERL).
Built on the former Westfield opencast coal mine in Fife, central Scotland, the new plant represents a major milestone in Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. Over the long-term, the WERF will advance Scotland and the UK’s network of modern waste management infrastructure and, at the same time, fully comply with the strictest UK emissions standards and requirements set out in the plant’s environmental permit.
The cutting-edge WERF waste-to-energy (WtE) plant will process up to 240,000 tonnes of residual, commercial and industrial waste annually. By diverting this non-recycled waste away from landfill sites and using it as a valuable resource, up to 24 MWe of baseload electricity will be generated. This energy will be fed into the National Grid, where it will power homes and businesses while reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based power generation.
Creating Local Employment and Supply Opportunities into the future
Over the three-year build phase, more than 3,000 workers were required, with 540 construction specialists onsite during the peak. This has provided a significant economic boost, through the creation of employment and supply chain opportunities for local workers and businesses.
Now that the operational phase has begun, the WERF will again create further employment and procurement prospects. Not least through the 33 new permanent operational roles, and the operators will continue to utilise regional suppliers to ensure the plant is safely and efficiently maintained over the next 25 years – strengthening the local economy and, at the same time, advancing Scotland’s environmental goals.
“Modern Waste-to-Energy facilities like Westfield are crucial to managing non-recyclable waste in a way that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.” said Daniel Dreier, Executive Vice President Waste to X & Renewable Gas Plants. “This facility enables the recovery of energy and valuable materials, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of waste compared to landfill. Kanadevia Inova is proud to bring this important project into full operation and to manage it over the next 25 years.”
Jonathan Heneghan, Director of Capital Projects at Viridor and a WERL Board Director, said: “This has been a text-book project that consistently upheld the highest safety standards throughout. Kanadevia Inova delivered a great result, overcoming a number of challenges during the commissioning phase with professionalism and commitment. Well done to all involved for reaching this important milestone. We now look forward to working closely with KVI as we enter the operational phase and continue delivering environmental and circular economy benefits for Scotland.”
“We are thrilled to announce the successful completion and commissioning of the Westfield ERF, a significant greenfield investment for Equitix. This achievement exemplifies the power of strong partnerships in creating value and making a positive impact locally,” said Hugh Crossley, CEO of Equitix.
“We extend our thanks to everyone who contributed to this major milestone, especially our partners Kanadevia Inova, Viridor, and Brockwell Energy. The Westfield ERF is set to play a crucial role in advancing Scotland’s net zero goals by reducing methane emissions, generating green energy and stimulating economic growth in the region.”
The plant is equipped with Kanadevia Inova’s advanced environmental control systems, including proprietary reciprocating grate technology, high-efficiency boilers, and state-of-the-art flue gas cleaning. These features will deliver very high facility availability, making it one of the most efficient WtE facilities in the UK today.
The WERF is a significant step in diverting waste from landfill, aligning with Scotland’s ambitious waste reduction and climate change targets. By recovering energy from residual waste that cannot be recycled, the facility will help to prevent methane emissions from landfill and reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.
To find out more about the Westfield Energy Recovery Facility, please visit https://westfield-erf.co.uk/