New CEMs system installed at Allington confirms commitment to environmental excellence

FCC Environment, which owns and operates the Allington Energy from Waste plant in Kent, has installed an all new Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) at the plant to ensure the plant continues to comply with its emissions obligations detailed by the Environment Agency under the plants permit to operate

Allington Integrated Waste Management Facility recovers energy from non-recyclable, non-hazardous waste streams and the plant began operating in late December 2008. The facility sorts separated materials for recycling and recovers energy from non-hazardous waste. The facility is able to process up to 550,000 tonnes a year of mixed waste for energy recovery and a further 65,000 tonnes of separated materials suitable for recycling.

£150 million has been invested in the facility and the facility generates up to 43MW of power, 34MW of which goes into the local electricity supply network to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Any surplus power generated goes back into the system to assist in powering the facility.

The Energy from Waste plant uses circulating fluidised bed technology to burn the waste, which then generates usable energy. The facility is designed and operated to ensure that all emissions are in line with requirements set by the Environmental Permit (BR4551).

Tony Stanbridge, General Manager for the plant said: “This project was critical to ensuring the security of the plant and that we continue running the plant 365 days a year 24 hours a day within our EA permit requirements. Installation and commissioning was completed in July of this year following 2 years of preparation.

"One of the major benefits is that the new location for the CEMS is at the base of the existing Stack, this has the benefit of improving maintainability and reducing manual handling tasks such as Calibration Gas Bottle Changes as everything is at ground level.”

KEY FACTS

• The Energy from Waste section of the facility can process up to 550,000 tonnes of suitable waste per year.
• Up to 65,000 tonnes of separated recycables (paper, card, metals and plastic) may be processed every year.
• Over 325,000 tonnes of household waste is managed by the facility every year.
• Kent Enviropower is under a 25 year contract with Kent County Council and will process waste from all council areas.
• Up to 263 million kilowatts of electricity can be generated every year.
• The equivalent fuel that would be required to generate this power (263 million kilowatts) is 200,000 tonnes of coal or a super tanker of oil.
• Over one hundred and fifty million pounds has been invested in the facility to date.
• Approximately 100 permanent jobs have been created.
• The site covers 84 acres.
• Up to 291 lorries visit the site every day in the process of bringing deliveries.
• Bottom ash, which is recycled, and flue gas treatment residues are both generated, while up to 25% of waste weight is generated in ash.