Westfield Energy Recovery Facility

Westfield was the site of one of the UK’s largest open cast coal mines. Mining began in the 1950s and finished in the 1990s, taking much of the local economy with it when it closed. The site in Westfield is now being used for a new energy from waste facility. In 2021 the site was acquired by Brockwell Energy for the development of the plant, which is expected to be operational by 2024. The main contractor on the site is Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) AG who have significant experience with energy from waste facilities in the UK.

The Westfield Energy Recovery Facility (WERF) is another vital step towards Scotland’s ambition of Zero Waste and achieving Net Zero carbon. The facility is expected to treat at least 240,000 tonnes of household-type waste from the surrounding area every year, making it more economical and cleaner than the alternative, which is sending it to landfill. The WERF will generate approximately 23MW of electricity. As coal is phased out of the UK’s energy generation mix, the Westfield site will again play an important part in ensuring the security of the electricity grid and help revive economic prosperity in the local area.

The site includes a waste bunker, turbine hall, tipping hall, admin and storage building on the site. Billington Structures will provide 1,300 tonnes of structural steel on this project for HZI, who will also provide operations and maintenance services to the facility under a long-term service agreement.

The energy from waste project is also a major catalyst for development of the wider Westfield site as Brockwell Energy explores solar photovoltaic and battery storage. As coal is phased out of the UK’s energy mix, the Westfield site will once again play an important part in ensuring the security of the electricity grid and help revive economic prosperity in the local area.