Kanadevia Inova hands over Westfield ERF

Built on a brownfield site – the former Westfield opencast coal mine in Fife, central Scotland – the new plant represents a major milestone in Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.

Over the long term, the WERF will advance Scotland and the UK’s network of modern waste management infrastructure and, at the same time, fully comply with the strictest UK emissions standards and requirements set out in the plant’s environmental permit.

The cutting-edge WERF waste-to-energy (WtE) plant will process up to 240,000 tonnes of residual, commercial, and industrial waste annually.

By diverting this non-recycled waste away from landfill sites and using it as a valuable resource, up to 24 MWe of baseload electricity will be generated.

This electricity will be fed into the National Grid, where it will power homes and businesses while reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based power generation.

This has been a textbook project that consistently upheld the highest safety standards throughout. Kanadevia Inova delivered a great result, overcoming a number of challenges during the commissioning phase with professionalism and commitment. Well done to all involved for reaching this important milestone. We now look forward to working closely with KVI as we enter the operational phase and continue delivering environmental and circular economy benefits for Scotland, said Jonathan Heneghan, Director of Capital Projects at Viridor and a WERL Board Director.

Creating local employment and supply opportunities

Over the three-year construction phase, more than 3,000 workers were required, with 540 construction specialists on site during the peak.

This has provided a significant economic boost through the creation of employment and supply chain opportunities for local workers and businesses.

Now that the operational phase has begun, the WERF will again create further employment and procurement prospects.

Not least through the 33 new permanent operational roles, and the operators will continue to utilise regional suppliers to ensure the plant is safely and efficiently maintained over the next 25 years, strengthening the local economy while advancing Scotland’s environmental goals.

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion and commissioning of the Westfield ERF, a significant greenfield investment for Equitix. This achievement exemplifies the power of strong partnerships in creating value and making a positive impact locally. We extend our thanks to everyone who contributed to this major milestone, especially our partners Kanadevia Inova, Viridor, and Brockwell Energy. The Westfield ERF is set to play a crucial role in advancing Scotland’s net-zero goals by reducing methane emissions, generating green energy, and stimulating economic growth in the region, said Hugh Crossley, CEO of Equitix.

State-of-the-art technology

The Westfield plant is equipped with Kanadevia Inova’s advanced environmental control systems, including proprietary reciprocating grate technology, high-efficiency boilers, and state-of-the-art flue gas cleaning.

These features will deliver very high facility availability, making it one of the most efficient WtE facilities in the UK today.

The WERF is a significant step in diverting waste from landfill, aligning with Scotland’s ambitious waste reduction and climate change targets.

By recovering energy from residual waste that cannot be recycled, the facility will help to prevent methane emissions from landfills and reduce the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Modern Waste-to-Energy facilities like Westfield are crucial to managing non-recyclable waste in a way that is both environmentally and economically sustainable. This facility enables the recovery of energy and valuable materials, significantly lowering the carbon footprint of waste compared to landfill. Kanadevia Inova is proud to bring this important project into full operation and to manage it over the next 25 years, said Daniel Dreier, EVP of Waste to X & Renewable Gas Plants at Kanadevia Inova.