Wind energy for landfill sites

Spain’s Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) is investing £100m in the construction of 80MW of wind capacity at landfill sites across the UK.

The initiative brings together two FCC subsidiaries, FCC Energy (FCCE) and Northampton-based Waste Recycling Group (WRG), which are reviewing potentially suitable sites across the UK from WRG’s landholdings.

WRG already recovers the energy from the clean combustion of non-hazardous household, commercial and industrial wastes at its Energy from Waste (EfW) incineration facilities.

These include Allington EfW in Kent, which generates electricity for export to the local network, and the Eastcroft EfW, which generates thermal energy in the form of steam, for use by Nottingham’s district heating scheme to supply homes, offices, shops and public buildings in the city.

This FCC scheme aims to add wind energy to sites that are already generating energy from landfill methane and other sources of energy.

It is anticipated that planning applications for the first wind turbines will be submitted later this year.

Paul Taylor, chief executive of WRG, said: ‘Given the already extensive experience WRG has in recovering renewable energy from a range of waste treatment technologies, plus the experience FCCE has in the operation of wind assets, this latest venture is the next logical step for the group. We will also seek other opportunities to develop our wind energy activities beyond the programme we are announcing today.’