enfinium Ferrybridge 1 – MHEA Site Visit April 2025

On 23^rd April 2025, Members of the Association attended a site visit to enfinium’s Ferrybridge 1 Plant.  The visit was part of the MHEA’s ongoing commitment to promoting industry knowledge, technical development, and collaboration among professionals in the field of materials handling.

enfinium is a leading UK energy from waste operator with four operational sites in the UK, in West Yorkshire, Kent and Flintshire and a further two in construction.  enfinium diverts 2.3 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste from climate-damaging landfill, putting it to good use by turning it into home grown energy, enough to power 500,000 UK homes. enfinium’s ambition is to transform its facilities into local ‘decarbonisation hubs’ powered by the millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste the UK will produce for decades to come. Using existing energy from waste infrastructure, enfinium could contribute to heat networks, produce electrolytic hydrogen, or use carbon capture technology to provide durable, high quality carbon removals which will be critical for the UK to achieve net zero by 2050.

The leading UK energy from waste operator has received the highest possible environmental performance rating from the Environment Agency (‘EA’) and Natural Resources Wales (‘NRW’) across all of its operational facilities. This latest rating highlights enfinium’s ongoing commitment to adhere to the highest standards of environmental performance, as it progresses its plans to decarbonise its operations and deliver carbon removals at scale.

The visit commenced with a warm welcome from the enfinium team, Dr Jane Atkinson CBE and Chief Operating Officer and Mr Steve Tosney, Plant Manager;  followed by an informative and highly engaging presentation.  The session provided valuable insights into the operations, capabilities and sustainability ambitions of the Ferrybridge 1 Plant.

enfinium Ferrybridge 1 is a state-of-the-art energy-from-waste (EfW) facility designed to recover energy from residual waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

The site generates up to 85MW (gross) electricity to the National Grid. Our Ferrybridge 1 site processes up to 725,000 tonnes of residual waste per annum, enough to meet the needs of up to 170,000 UK homes and businesses.

Attendees were briefed on the advanced technologies used in the plant, including waste combustion systems, emissions control equipment, and materials recovery procedures.

A strong emphasis was placed on operational safety, environmental compliance, and employee well-being.

Following the presentation, attendees were taken on a guided tour of the plant. This provided a firsthand look at key components of the facility, including:

• The tipping hall and bunker area
• The combustion chamber and boiler
• The storage and control room
• The turbine hall
• The flue gas treatment system
• Ash handling and recovery operations
• Carbon capture pilot plant

The tour offered a clear understanding of how the plant functions as an integrated system, turning waste into energy while minimising environmental impact.

The Ferrybridge 1 Plant is a prime example of modern energy-from-waste technology in action.

enfinium’s commitment to sustainability and innovation is evident in their processes and future planning.

The visit fostered a valuable exchange of knowledge between MHEA members and enfinium’s technical and operational teams.

The MHEA would like to extend its sincere thanks to Jane and Steve and all the enfinium team for their hospitality and the depth of insight shared during the visit. The experience was both educational and inspiring, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and innovation in the materials handling and waste-to-energy sectors.

For more information please see their website: https://enfinium.co.uk/