The development includes a waste to energy facility, and will treat household, commercial and industrial waste that cannot be recycled. It will recover energy through the waste treatment process and export enough electricity to supply the power needs of approximately 60,000 households. This announcement coincides with recent developments which could significantly increase Indaver’s investment in Ireland. This includes the recent award of planning permission for an electrolyser to produce hydrogen at Meath Waste to Energy as well as progress in the planning process for Indaver’s plans to build a €160 million, 240,000 tonnes per year waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy, Cork.
While site preparation has been underway for a number of months in Essex, the construction of the waste to energy part of the facility will start soon, and is on track to begin commercial operations in early 2026.
Indaver has appointed global cleantech company Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) as lead EPC contractor for the Rivenhall project, alongside Irish civil contractor PJ Hegarty Limited and earth moving contractor Tom Blackwell Limited.
Fabio Dinale, VP Business Development at HZI said: “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. However, it’s important that this waste is also appropriately managed to allow energy and valuable materials to be recovered in the process and lower our overall carbon footprint. Modern EfW plants like the Rivenhall IWMF and Energy Centre will make significant contributions to meet these vital social and environmental goals."
Speaking about this development Seamus Flynn, Managing Director of Indaver Ireland & UK said; “The scale of Indaver’s investment in the UK market could also be realised on the island of Ireland. Ireland lacks sufficient waste treatment infrastructure and should take the opportunity to recover energy from its residual waste. We are currently exporting this waste to other European countries or worst still, continuing to send to landfill. As we transition to net zero carbon and a circular economy, we must develop local sustainable residual waste infrastructure. In terms of our energy ambitions at Meath and elsewhere, while we currently produce electricity for export to the grid, we are exploring decarbonisation projects to provide heat to homes and businesses and to produce hydrogen for use in heat and transport. ”
Notes to Editor:
- The 595,000 tonnes per year waste to energy facility will form part of the larger Integrated Waste Management Facility in Rivenhall, Essex. The total permitted capacity of the IWMF is 853,000 tonnes per year including other waste management activities.
- The waste to energy part of the development will generate 49MW of electricity (exporting enough electricity for 60,000 homes)
- In April 2022, Indaver receiving planning permission for a 10 MW hydrogen electrolyser at its existing facility in Meath. The electrolyser will make use of energy that might otherwise be wasted on windy days when electricity supply outstrips demand with the potential to assist in decarbonising the heat and transport sectors. This will increase the energy efficiency of the site which already generates enough electricity annually to power the equivalent of Drogheda and Navan combined.
- The proposed waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy is fully in line with EU, national and regional waste policy. The Southern Region Waste Management Plan (SRWMP 2015-2021) supports the development of up to 300,000 tonnes of thermal recovery capacity for the treatment of municipal waste.
- The population of Cork city and county is close to 550,000 and growing, with the National Planning Framework (NPF) making provision for the population to grow to approximately 770,000 by 2040. In light of such a growing population, with associated greater volumes of waste arising, and an identified policy need for further progress towards self-sufficiency, the Ringaskiddy facility will assist in meeting this need.
- The proposed Ringaskiddy facility will also minimise the export of waste to continental Europe, whilst also addressing the present spatial imbalance in the Southern region. Currently, waste generated in the Cork region is transported to Leinster or exported abroad for recovery in waste to energy facilities.
About Indaver
Indaver’s waste to energy facility at Meath has been in operation since 2012, treating non-recyclable waste and generating electricity. An additional waste to energy facility for Cork is currently in the planning process. It offers high-quality, sustainable and cost-efficient waste management solutions to large scale industry, public authorities and waste collection companies across Europe. With over 30 years expertise and a wide range of treatment facilities and processing capabilities, they offer tailored solutions for a wide range of municipal, commercial and industrial waste streams. Indaver currently has facilities and operations in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal. The company is currently developing waste treatment infrastructure in other European countries, including the United Kingdom.