Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) has been appointed to build a new Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plant in Leeds.

The client is enfinium Skelton Grange Limited, formerly Wheelabrator U.K. (WTI) and Multifuel Energy Limited (MEL). From 2025, around 410,000 tonnes of non-recyclable municipal and commercial waste from Yorkshire and neighbouring regions will be processed annually. The process will generate up to 49MW (gross) of electricity, which will be fed into the National Grid as partially renewable energy – enough to meet the electricity needs of more than 100,000 homes.

"The UK's drive for sustainable waste management includes clear recycling targets as well as ensuring that non-recyclable waste does not end up in landfill, but is also recycled in such a way that energy and valuable materials are recovered in the process and produced at lower overall carbon footprint," said Fabio Dinale, VP Business Development at HZI. "Modern EfW plants like the one being built at Skelton Grange make a significant contribution to this."


The new infrastructure project will be built on the site of the former Skelton Grange Electricity Works, which were decommissioned in 1983 and 1994 respectively. The new plant will have two incineration lines, which will be equipped with HZI's own EfW technology. In addition to the HZI moving grate, it will also include XeroSorp®, the dry cleaning process, also from HZI. The multi-stage flue gas cleaning system is state-of-the-art, meets the strict requirements of the applicable emission directives and fully satisfies the high demands placed on a modern EfW system.

HZI will begin work on what is now its 14th project in the United Kingdom.

The first construction work on the site will start July 2021. Full commissioning of the plant is planned for 2025.