Thameside ERF
Thameside Energy Recovery Facility
Viridor has entered into an agreement for the purchase of Thameside Energy Recovery Facility Ltd. which owns the rights to develop, construct and operate a new Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at Tilbury Docks, in East London.
When constructed the facility will treat around 350,000 tonnes of waste per annum and will generate the equivalent of powering c. 93 000 homes.
Viridor’s aim is to reach commercial operation of the new EfW in 2028.
Clearance and preparation of the site has already taken place and construction is expected to start in November 2024.
What is an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF)?
An Energy Recovery Facility provides the means for energy to be recovered from residual waste, meaning landfill becomes the last resort. The facility produces renewable energy from waste. This site will treat around 350,000 of residual waste per annum and turn this into electricity to power homes across the UK.
After reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible, we are left with residual black bag waste. This is the waste that cannot be recycled. Energy recovery sees this non-recyclable waste burned at high temperature under carefully controlled conditions. The waste from your black bags will be used to produce electricity, instead of going to landfill.
These facilities reduce the use of fossils fuels to create electricity, cut emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce our dependence on landfill.
To find out more about how an ERF works, please click HERE.
About the site
The Thameside ERF will be a new EfW facility taking residual black bag waste and turning it into energy. The site is located in the Port of Tilbury, on the north-west side of the Docks. The electricity generated from the facility will feed into the National Grid to help power our homes. It will be linked via underground cables to the Tilbury substation on the east side of the Docks.
The facility will treat around 350,000 tonnes of waste per annum and generate the equivalent of enough electricity to power about 93,000 homes.
Where are we now?
Thameside ERF has already received planning consent from the Government, which means it is now entering the construction phase ahead of it becoming operational.
Site clearance began earlier this year, with construction starting in November 2024. We expect the facility to begin commercial operations in 2028, when it will start producing renewable energy from residual waste.
Once construction starts onsite, some temporary site offices will be installed and pile foundation works will begin.
Following that, works will take place to lay the foundations of the facility and start work on key buildings, including the Boiler, Steam Turbine and Waste Storage buildings.
During construction we are committed to keeping our local community informed about progress. We will ensure that this page is regularly updated. If you would like to receive our digital newsletter, please sign up at info@viridorthameside.co.uk.
We are also holding quarterly Community Liaison Group meetings to promote communication between Viridor and the local community. Local groups, residents’ associations and local representatives will receive invitations to each meeting.
Who are we?
Viridor entered into an agreement for the purchase of Thameside EFR, and will be developing, constructing and operating the facility.
Viridor is a sector leading resource recovery and recycling business focused on energy recovery and plastics recycling and reprocessing. We operate the largest fleet of Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in the UK.
Viridor’s purpose is to build a world where nothing goes to waste.
In May 2021, Viridor published an ambitious decarbonisation plan committing to reaching Net Zero by 2040 and to becoming the UK’s first net negative emissions waste management company by 2045. And in December 2021, we committed to being a fully circular plastics recycling and reprocessing business by 2025. We are currently on track to achieve these goals.
Viridor is currently working on a Carbon Capture and Storage project at its Runcorn ERF, which will be the first of its kind in the UK. Carbon capture at ERFs provides the UK government with a highly credible route to carbon neutrality and is actively supported by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). For more information, please visit: https://viridor.co.uk/our-ambition/runcorn-ccs-project/.
See our homepage for more information about Viridor.
Why do we need an ERF?
We have an urgent need to move to renewable sources of energy, and Viridor Thameside ERF will contribute to this transition. The UK Government has set ambitious goals to meet the challenge posed by climate change, including decarbonising our electricity system by 2035. By using our waste that would have otherwise been sent to landfill, we are not only reducing the amount of waste disposed at landfill sites, but also creating electricity from this.
As the waste the ERF burns would have otherwise been thrown away, this is also a way to contribute to reducing our energy bills in the long-term and improving the security of the UK’s energy supply, without having to rely on expensive imported fossil fuels.
How will the project benefit the local community?
Viridor is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. During the construction and operation of the project, we are keen to give back to the community, particularly by being involved with community projects. This is not only through providing local jobs, but also looking to get involved with local schools and colleges and talking about apprenticeships.
We are keen to put money where the community itself wants it, which could mean supporting local groups to renovate community hubs, helping out foodbanks or donating to local allotments.
The ERF will also provide local employment opportunities, especially during its long construction phase. The jobs strategy that was prepared as part of the planning permission will be implemented, providing jobs during both the construction and operation of the project. Whilst there may be some employment from outside the area for certain roles having very specific technical requirements, we are committed to providing local employment wherever possible. This will have knock-on economic benefits for the local area and businesses.
If you have any questions about the project or would like to sign up for our digital newsletter, please get in touch.
Email: info@viridorthameside.co.uk
Call: 01375 806470
