How will Enfinium’s Skelton Grange facility impact waste management and energy recovery in the UK? Explore new approaches to circular economy and decarbonisation in Leeds.
Key Takeaways
- Enfinium Leeds operates a new energy from waste facility that processes 410,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste annually, generating up to 49MW of energy.
- The facility supports the UK’s circular economy and decarbonisation efforts by diverting waste from high-emission landfills and recovering valuable materials.
- Skelton Grange has created over 400 jobs during construction and now supports over 40 full-time roles, boosting the local economy.
- Enfinium’s initiatives, including a £100,000 community fund, aim to deliver positive social and environmental impacts while advancing sustainability.
- The company launched its Net Zero Transition Plan in 2024 to achieve net zero emissions by 2033 through carbon capture and storage technology.
Enfinium has commenced operations at its new Skelton Grange energy from waste facility in Leeds, UK. The site is designed to process up to 410,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste annually, generating up to 49MW of homegrown energy. This development marks a significant step in diverting waste from high-emissions landfill sites, supporting the UK’s transition towards a circular economy and contributing to national decarbonisation efforts.
The facility, constructed by Kanadevia Inova, a global green technology company, incorporates advanced moving grate technology and the XeroSorp dry flue gas cleaning system. These systems enable Skelton Grange to meet stringent emission standards while delivering high environmental performance and operational reliability. The plant’s two-line design allows for the efficient recovery of energy and valuable materials, such as post-treatment ash and ferrous/non-ferrous metals, which will be reused or recycled.
Enfinium is hosting an open event at Skelton Grange to showcase the facility’s role in supporting a circular economy and the UK’s decarbonisation goals. The event includes keynote remarks from The Rt Hon Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds South, and Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and celebrates the contributions of the teams involved in the project’s delivery.
Driving Decarbonisation and Local Regeneration
Energy from waste sites across the UK play an important role in reducing overall emissions by diverting non-recyclable material from landfill. Landfill sites generate nearly twice the amount of climate-warming emissions compared to energy recovery processes. In 2024, Enfinium diverted over 2.3 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste from landfill, avoiding nearly 560,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and recovering low-carbon electricity sufficient to power over 500,000 homes and businesses.
The construction of Skelton Grange has provided a boost to the local economy, with an investment of over £500 million and the creation of more than 400 jobs during the construction phase. Now operational, the facility supports over 40 high-quality full-time roles. The site’s development is recognised as a catalyst for regeneration in the area, complementing other key projects such as the Aire Valley Heat and Power Network and Microsoft’s new data centre.
In February 2025, the Aire Valley Heat and Power Network, an innovative low carbon heating and electricity scheme in Leeds, received £19.5 million in funding from the Government’s Green Heat Network Fund. The scheme will utilise heat from Skelton Grange to offer reliable, sustainable heating to local businesses. Additionally, Skelton Grange will be able to supply electricity via private wires, providing homegrown, reliable baseload power to nearby users without the need for grid connections.
Community Engagement and Future Sustainability
Enfinium has established the Skelton Grange Philanthropic and Community Fund, committing over £100,000 annually to support local community and environmental projects. This initiative reflects Enfinium’s ongoing partnership with local stakeholders and its commitment to delivering positive social and environmental impacts.
The completion of Skelton Grange continues the partnership between Enfinium and Kanadevia Inova, who previously delivered the Ferrybridge 1 and Ferrybridge 2 facilities in West Yorkshire. Kanadevia Inova remains active in the UK market, advancing further energy from waste construction projects and supporting the rollout of advanced waste recovery and carbon capture infrastructure.
In 2024, Enfinium launched its Net Zero Transition Plan, outlining the company’s pathway to achieve net zero across its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2033. The plan includes the installation of carbon capture and storage technology across Enfinium’s facilities, aiming to deliver carbon removals at scale and further support the UK’s climate change objectives.
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