L-R Reinhard Lohmann, Chairman of the Management Board of RETHMANN Group (with shovel) and Anthony De Mulder, PDM Group (with shovel) with members of the PDM, RETHMANN and SARIA Groups.
Recycling processor, Granox – part of the PDM Group (Prosper De Mulder Ltd) – has announced that it has begun construction on its new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at its site in Widnes, Cheshire.
The plant received planning approval from Halton Borough Council in October last year, and forms part of the latest phase in PDM’s ongoing UK expansion of its ReFood brand, following the opening of PDM’s other ReFood plant in Doncaster in 2011.
The £20 million anaerobic digestor in Cheshire is being built on PDM’s existing rendering and renewable energy generation site on Desoto Road, Widnes, and once completed, will have the capacity to handle approximately 90,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial food waste.
Three combined heat and power (CHP) engines at the site will then convert the biogas produced during the AD process into 4.2 megawatt hours of renewable electricity – enough energy to power approximately 8,000 homes – and organic fertiliser produced as a byproduct of AD will be used by local farmers.
The plant will also have the capability to produce 4,000 kilogrammes per hour of steam and hot water for use in its existing on-site rendering operations.
According to the group, once completed in ‘late 2013’, the plant will employ 36 people across sales, operations, engineering, administration and finance.
Philip Simpson, Commercial Director at PDM, welcomed the commencement of construction at the Widnes plant, saying: “The Widnes AD plant adds another sustainable solution to our portfolio in the North West and showcases our long standing commitment to develop this site to create a unique range of recycling and renewable energy services at a single location.
“Our award-winning Doncaster plant has set a benchmark in AD-based recycling, assisting businesses to divert waste from landfill sites. The Widnes plant is surrounded by an area that’s an important hub in terms of food manufacturing and retail distribution, so it’s the ideal place to offer such state-of-the-art treatments for the 10 million plus tonnes of food waste the UK generates.”
Plans for a third plant in London are also reported to now be ‘underway’.
Read more about ReFood.
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