The first stages of building a mega-incinerator are underway this week with the German-based company behind the burner announcing a Swiss firm as the main contractor.
In an update on the project to build a 54-megawatt incinerator on a site off Algores Way in Wisbech MVV Environment Limited said it has commenced the first stages with detailed design and preliminary construction works.
The Medworth Energy from Waste Facility combined energy and heat facility is set to recover electricity and steam from over half a million tonnes of non-recyclable household, commercial and industrial waste each year.
It will have a generating capacity of over 50 megawatts; the steam and electricity can be used locally and excess electricity will be exported to the grid.
MVV’s managing director, Paul Carey, said: “After several years of development we are starting our Medworth project with design and preparatory works.
“These include vegetation clearance and preparatory construction work in the next few months whilst, in parallel, satisfying the relevant planning conditions.”
The project company, Medworth CHP Ltd, has developed a multi-contract approach with the main engineering, procurement and construction contract being awarded to Kanadevia Inova AG of Switzerland, starting with design works.
MVV announced that it had secured Development Consent for its Medworth project in February last year.
Fenland District Council launched a legal challenge, which failed and subsequently, an Environmental Permit was issued by the Environment Agency in May 2024, since when work has been going on to prepare for further stages of the project.
However, it has already not been plain sailing for MVV with one local company already withdrawing from a contract to help clear the site.
In January Andrew Humphrey, who runs family firm Andrew Humphrey Contracting Ltd, started work to clear part of the site to enable surveying to be undertaken.
However, he said he had not realised it was for the incinerator, and after completing only a “couple of hours” he said his company would do more and was standing in solidarity with the local community, which has fought tooth and nail to try to stop the burner coming to Wisbech.
©Fenland Citizen
