Vital Energi sets to build 18 MW Drakelow energy-from -waste plant in Burton

Vital Energi has signed a major contract to develop an energy-from-waste facility near Burton Upon Trent, that is set to contribute to greening the grid by generating 18MWe of electricity from non-recyclable Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).

The Drakelow Energy from Waste plant has been designed by the Vital Energi team and will be built, owned and operated by the Vital Energi Group. In addition to generating 18MWe of low-carbon electricity, the facility will also make a valuable contribution to diverting waste from landfills with the capability of processing 169,000 tonnes of non-recyclable Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) each year.

Vital Energi is investing its own technical and financial resources into this facility with the balance of the investment being provided from external funding sources.

The RDF used in the gasification process is to be supplied solely by Irish-owned waste management company Beauparc Group.

Squire Patton Boggs has provided legal support for all aspects of the transaction from the outset to the financial close. The Royal Haskoning as the technical adviser on the project. Future Earth Energy (FEE) is the developer of the scheme who set up and owned “ProjectCo” and procured the planning permission, environmental permit, land option, grid connection and the fuel supplier for the Drakelow facility.