Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre

The Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre is set to generate 20 megawatts of electricity from 240,000 tonnes of residual waste, which is what remains after recycling. This energy creates enough electricity to power 21,000 homes.

Once complete, the Environment Agency will monitor the plant to make sure that it operates in strict accordance with permits. The Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre will be large enough to take all household residual waste from Cornwall and there will also room for some commercial waste. Prior to the construction of the recovery centre, non-recyclable waste was sent to a nearby landfill.

SITA has been given a 30 year license to manage the site and waste in Cornwall. SUEZ operates 13 household waste recycling centre in Cornwall, which are used by over one million people each year. They have invested over £15 million in these centre in order to provide modern, accessible facilities equipped to recycle as much residents waste as possible.

The new Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre will be situated at St Dennis and there are plans for a visitor centre that will support education in waste management and the environment, hosting visits from schools and adult groups.

Billington Structures supplied the structural steelwork for the recovery centre in St Dennis. The site includes a flue gas treatment area, turbine hall, waste bunker and a 120 metre high stack. The ash produced by burning the waste is processed on site and recycled to create a secondary aggregate which is then used in construction projects. Metals are also extracted from the ash and recycled.

The Cornwell Energy Recovery Centre has been nominated for the Sustainable Project of the year award at the Michelmores Property Awards which celebrates outstanding property and construction projects in the south-west of England.