Viridor is delighted to confirm that its Ardley Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) has successfully synchronised with the National Grid.
This advance in the commissioning process is one of the final steps to be put in place before the site becomes fully operational later this year. Ardley ERF, in Oxfordshire, is expected to process 300,000 tonnes of residual waste each year and generate enough electricity to power over 38,000 homes. In doing so, it will divert 95% of Oxfordshire’s residual municipal waste from landfill.
Construction of the site began in November 2011 by contractor CNIM Clugston Oxfordshire with over 2.1 million manhours spent on the project to date, with the commissioning process of the facility currently continuing.
Rod Lerwell, general manager Ardley ERF, said, “I’m so proud to see the facility starting to come to life in these final stages. We’re close to completion and I look forward to taking over from all the teams who have worked in partnership to bring us to this point. We’ll continue with the hard work to ensure that our best-in-class facility provides a great service to the people of Oxfordshire.”
The £200m facility is due to be completed in the autumn.
County councillor David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member for environment, said: “This is excellent news and represents another step towards a more sustainable future for waste in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire County Council, its partners at the district councils and with the valuable support of residents, has done a massive amount of work to reduce household waste and maximise recycling and composting. It is therefore very pleasing to know that what little does ‘go to waste’ will actually provide power and not go into unsustainable landfill.”
