SIMEC Atlantis converting Welsh power plant to run on biomass and waste

In the UK, SIMEC Atlantis took over the Uskmouth, Wales power plant in June and is converting it to run on biomass and waste. Post conversion, the station will export 220MW of baseload power to the grid using an end-of-waste energy pellet with an average calorific value of 20 mega joules per kg. The conversion is expected to take 18 months post completion of front end engineering and design (“FEED”) with a target of first production in Q4 2020 and the converted station will have an operational life of 20 years.

Successful milling trials have been conducted on the N+P Subcoal® pellets using vertical spindle roller mills in Germany. Subcoal® pellets, which are made from a combination of biogenic waste and non-recyclable plastic, will replace coal-fired generation at SAE’s Uskmouth facility in Wales. The promising results of the milling trials will inform the final design of the combustion system which will be retrofitted to the existing power station.