Enabling works kick off at Protos
Work has started on the £10m second phase of infrastructure works at Peel L&P Environmental’s Cheshire energy hub, while site clearance has begun for Powerhouse Energy Group’s proposal in the development’s Plastic Park.
The infrastructure works will provide road access for an energy recovery facility to be operated by Covanta and the second phase of plots of at Protos to be brought forward for development.
Works include:
- New access roads to adoptable standards
- New nature areas to create habitats for wading birds and water voles
- Two new bridges
- Upgrading the existing canal berth onto the Manchester Ship Canal
- Water supply to phase 2 plots
- New service infrastructure
The infrastructure work at the Ellemsere Port site is being undertaken by John Sisk & Son and is due to be completed in early 2022.
Jayne Hennessy, development manager at Peel L&P Environmental, said: “Sitting right in the heart of the North West industrial cluster Protos is already playing an important role in the region’s net zero ambitions with low carbon energy generation. We’re also looking at futureproofing the site by designing routes for other energy technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture and heat networks.”
Phase one of infrastructure works at Protos were completed in December 2016
As its plans gather pace, Powerhouse, a sustainable hydrogen company, has appointed a number of senior process engineers, application engineers and support staff to be based at the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park next to Protos.
Consented earlier this year, 2021 will see the first commercial use of Powerhouse’s technology to re-use end-of-life plastics at the Plastic Park at Protos, for which Peel L&P Environmental will be bringing forward a planning application next year.
Powerhouse Energy and Peel L&P Environmental are collaborating to develop 11 waste plastic to hydrogen facilities across the UK.
Tim Yeo, chairman of Powerhouse Energy Group, said: “We welcome the commencement of activity at Protos with clearance of the site where the first commercial scale plant will be built, which will help accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition.
“Powerhouse is getting down to business ahead of intense activity expected in 2021 as demand for our waste plastic to hydrogen technology gains rapid momentum.”
