The company driving forward the development of a pioneering £150m green energy power plant has selected a joint venture partnership to design, build and operate the facility.

MWH Treatment, part of the giant US-based MWH Global, and leading engineering specialist Spencer Group have combined to win preferred bidder status for the Energy Works development in Hull, north east England, which will be the first of its kind in the UK. Energy Works (Hull) Ltd today named the joint venture as preferred bidder to deliver an Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) wrap contract to deliver the first phase of the development, with construction due to begin early in 2015 and completion scheduled by March 2017. The selection of preferred bidder follows a competitive process complying with European Union procurement regulations. The first phase of the development will be an innovative energy recovery facility that will generate 28MW of electricity by an advanced gasification process. It will provide sufficient electricity to power 43,000 homes, by processing materials which would otherwise be sent to landfill, while also reducing dependency upon imported fossil fuels. Phase two of the scheme will see the later addition of an Anaerobic Digestion plant and materials processing facilities. The development will provide a major stimulus for the local economy, creating more than 200 jobs during the construction phase, and 40 permanent positions once Energy Works is operational. Energy Works Project Director Phil Morland said: "We are pleased to announce the joint venture of MWH Treatment and Spencer Group as our preferred bidder. The two companies are a good fit, with complementary capabilities, and offer the ideal partnership to deliver this ground-breaking project. "There is a clear synergy between the partners - MWH brings a wealth of experience in energy recovery projects and a strong thermal process capability, while Spencer has vast experience in executing complex multi-disciplinary energy projects and a track record of delivering large civil, electrical and bulk handling works. This is another major milestone for Energy Works, following securing planning permission, a £19.9 million capital grant, and a grid connection agreement."


(CD/IT)