Biffa CHP plant

Edina supplies biogas CHP to largest AD plant in Europe

Edina supplies and installs leading efficiency and performance biogas combined heat and power (CHP) at Biffa’s flagship Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant in Cannock, Europe’s largest waste processing plant capable of handling over 120,000 tonnes of food waste per year.

As a landfill operator of many years’ experience, BIFFA put forward proposals to create an AD facility at its landfill site in the West Midlands. Aware that the thousands of tonnes of food waste could be put to better use and in response to the UK’s National Waste Strategy a plan was devised whereby waste food could be delivered to an enclosed warehouse, sorted and then used for AD all at one site.

Costing £24million to develop, the Poplars AD plant was intended to mainly treat commercial and industrial food and organic waste from the likes of Sainsbury’s and Bakkavor.

Waste to Energy

In terms of the process, waste is pumped into one of the five digester tanks, which is then heated to 70 degrees Celsius, allowing the AD process to work and produce the methane gas.

The plant uses CHP boilers which produce both heat and electricity. About 15% of the electricity is used by the plant, but the rest is sold back to the National Grid. The heat generated on the other hand is reused in the plant across Biffa’s operations.

Biffa’s flagship plant in Cannock was opened in April 2011. The site is the biggest in Europe handling 120,000 tonnes of food waste annually and although an existing landfill site, BIFFA worked hard with suppliers and the local residents to lessen the impact of its activities on the area and allay any concerns about the AD facility.

Due to the plant being located near the landfill site, Biffa used its existing waste management infrastructure to exploit efficiencies, such as a ready supply of suitable feedstock to allow them to produce large volumes of gas, which can be combusted to produce electricity.

Food for Thought

The UK generates around 15million tonnes of food waste per year, with businesses accounting for just under half of this in the food production sector.

Much of this food waste is currently sent to landfill sites where it is slowly broken down into methane and carbon dioxide, which are both powerful greenhouse gases.

This project aligns to the Government’s strategy of recycling waste to be used to produce renewable energy. One of the by-products of the digestion process is high quality soil, which can then be sold onto farms and local gardening centres in the West Midlands.

Client:
Biffa

Location:
Cannock, United Kingdom

Capacity:
6.5MWe

Operational:
2011

Manufacturer:
MWM

Packager:
Edina

Engine Type:
3 x 2MWe TCG 2020 V20 and 1 x 500kWe TCG 2016

Primary Fuel:
Biogas

Granville Ecopark

Edina CHP powers Ireland’s leading AD Plant Granville Ecopark

Whiteriver Landfill

Edina CHP generator facility powers homes and reduces CO2 at Whiteriver landfill.

Indaver Waste-to-Energy Plant

An innovative method of waste disposal, which in turn creates its own energy, is being supported by Edina standby diesel power generation.

Biffa CHP plant

Key benefits

Edina supplies biogas CHP to largest AD plant in Europe

Scope of Supply

Waste to Energy

Food for Thought

Supporting and technical data

Related case studies

Granville Ecopark

Whiteriver Landfill

Indaver Waste-to-Energy Plant

Contact Us