Peel reworks plans at £170m Protos energy park

Peel Environmental has scaled down its plans for an energy-from-waste facility at Protos, the 126-acre site in Cheshire formerly known as Ince Park, dropping the electrical output from 95 megawatts to 35 megawatts.

Peel is working up a planning application to submit to Cheshire West & Chester Council, amending approval granted in 2009 for the larger project.

Covanta was due to be the operator of the 95 MW plant. Peel said that Covanta retains an interest in the plot, but is yet to be confirmed as the operator of the smaller facility.

If approved, construction of the energy-from-waste unit is hoped to start in 2017. The planned facility will create energy from 350,000 tonnes of household, commercial and non-hazardous industrial waste each year. As yet there are no contracts in place for the source of the waste to power the plant.

Work is already underway at Protos to build a 20MW biomass facility, alongside enabling infrastructure funded by a £6m Evergreen Fund loan.

Protos recently became part of the new Cheshire Science Corridor Enterprise Zone, which will offer incentives such as business rates support and enhanced capital allowances to encourage further investment.

Jane Gaston, Protos development director at Peel Environmental, said: “This is a real landmark moment for Protos. Our vision for Protos, to create a regional energy hub with international clout, is fast becoming a reality. In addition to £170m announced at our start on site, this deal represents further significant investment into the northern economy.

“Protos will become an energetic environment where innovative businesses can sit alongside renowned research facilities and industry. Having this energy facility, and the biomass facility under construction, as anchor developments is a real boost for this approach.”

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