SIMEC Atlantis achieves successful pellet production and milling trials for 220 MW Uskmouth Power Station conversion project in Newport

SIMEC Atlantis Energy has announced the successful production of 100 tonnes of fuel pellets for large scale combustion testing and the successful completion of large scale milling tests on the 100% waste-derived fuel pellets to be used at the Uskmouth power station, post conversion. This is a key milestone for the project and provides further confidence that the energy pellets developed as a high calorific value, low-cost alternative to coal are able to be produced in commercial quantities and can be milled using industry-standard designs.

The next stage in the project will be for Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe GmbH to conduct final large scale combustion trials at their 24 MW facility in Q2 2020 to validate combustion system design, prior to concluding EPC contract negotiations with lead project partners.

The fuel pellets, produced by project partner and Dutch fuel specialist N+P Group, contain approximately 50% biogenic waste material (such as paper and cardboard), with the remainder made up predominantly of plastic waste. The waste used to make the pellets is not currently economically recyclable and therefore, if not used in the production of fuel pellets, would likely have to be disposed of in landfill.