Protos ERF powering ahead as hot commissioning phase begins

Encyclis’ Protos Energy Recovery Facility (ERF), in Cheshire, took a major step closer to full-scale operations this week with the start of hot commissioning.

This critical phase will ensure the plant is ready for its first delivery of waste this summer, with engineers now progressively bringing systems into operation.

In preparation for the operational phase, Encyclis has already recruited more than 40 operations and maintenance personnel, 95% of whom are from the local area. The workforce includes four apprentices who were selected as part of Encyclis’ regional apprenticeship programme contributing to the development of skills for the future.

When fully operational, Protos ERF will safely process up to 500,000 tonnes per year of the region’s residual waste, converting this into continuous baseload electricity equivalent to the needs of 75,000 homes and recovering resources such as aggregates and metals for reuse.

Protos ERF will be an important addition to Encyclis’ core cluster of operational facilities in the UK Midlands, alongside Rookery South ERF in Bedfordshire and Newhurst ERF in Leicestershire.

Protos ERF is also set to be the first fully decarbonised Energy-from-Waste facility in the UK, with work now underway to build a breakthrough carbon capture plant on adjoining land. An estimated 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the waste treatment process will be separated from the flue gases and transported by pipeline for secure geological storage in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West industrial decarbonisation cluster. The aim of the project is to help the UK reduce its carbon emissions, catalyse investment and support economic growth, with the creation of further skilled jobs at Protos.

The start of the hot commissioning phase at Protos ERF is a significant milestone. The Chief Executive of Encyclis, Mark Burrows-Smith said: “We are delighted to enter the next phase of development at Protos with completion now in sight. Once operational, this essential infrastructure will provide a critical service to the region while our landmark carbon capture project will support the UK’s carbon reduction targets. The progress we’ve made is a tribute to our teams and we are pleased to be recruiting skilled people from the local area and creating future career opportunities for apprentices.”

With the physical construction of the facility nearing completion, attention is focused on the energisation and testing of electrical and mechanical systems. The current phase of activity is a precursor to the plant being ready to receive its first waste deliveries, followed shortly afterwards by first fire on waste, and the subsequent export of the first electricity generated at the site.