The new £500m energy from waste facility in Sandwell, Konen as Kelvin, will process 395,000 tonnes of waste. It will also power 95,000 homes annually.
Key Takeaways
- A new £500m energy from waste facility in Sandwell will process 395,000 tonnes of waste and power 95,000 homes annually.
- The facility, operated by Enfinium, will create 31 skilled jobs, with nearly half filled by local recruits.
- Enfinium plans to turn the site into a decarbonisation hub, supplying heat to a local network and reducing fossil fuel use.
- Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor, emphasizes the importance of this investment for job creation and energy resilience in the region.
- Enfinium’s CEO, Mike Maudsley, highlights the facility’s potential to anchor a new heat network and benefit the community.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands in UK, has visited the Kelvin Waste-to-Energy facility in Sandwell. This is a £500 million infrastructure project nearing completion. The facility will be operated by Enfinium and is scheduled to become operational later this year.
Upon commissioning, the plant will process up to 395,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste each year. This material would otherwise be directed to landfill or exported. The facility will use this material to generate enough electricity to supply up to 95,000 homes.
Local Job Creation and Skills Development
The project will create 31 new, full-time positions in skilled roles, including engineering, operations, and site management. Enfinium has confirmed that the workforce required to run the plant has been appointed. Additionally, nearly half of the new employees were recruited from the local area.
Furthermore, the site will be integrated into Enfinium’s group-wide apprenticeship programme. This initiative is designed to provide training and development for future operations and maintenance technicians. It also supports government objectives to increase access to high-quality apprenticeships.
Future Plans for Decarbonisation
Enfinium has outlined its long-term objective for Kelvin to function as a decarbonisation hub. The company is exploring plans to supply heat to a new local network, which could serve businesses, homes, schools, and hospitals. In doing so, this would displace the use of fossil fuels. A plot of land at the site has been allocated for the scheme’s back-up and top energy centre. A tendering process for the heat offtake is expected to open soon.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, stated: “This is a big investment by Enfinium and a real vote of confidence in our region. My Growth Plan includes a credible strategy to adopt smarter ways of generating, storing and using energy across our region, and it will be private sector backing like this that will be key to delivering that better future for our communities.” He added that the investment equips the region for the future by deploying local resources to enhance energy resilience. It also creates jobs and reduces carbon emissions.
“It was a pleasure to welcome the mayor to our newest facility in Sandwell. Kelvin is a critical new piece of infrastructure which will be a long-term asset for the local community. We are proud to be creating new, skilled jobs, supporting local growth, and powering homes and businesses across the West Midlands with home-grown energy”, said Enfinium’s CEO Mike Maudsley. “We also have ambitious plans for the facility to anchor a new heat network in the area, helping those around us to decarbonise. We look forward to strengthening our engagement with the community and delivering lasting benefits for the region.’’
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