Viridor Dunbar Energy Recovery Facility 1 Work advances on Dunbar ERF What is an Energy Recovery Facility? Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs) are a safe and environmentally sustainable alternative to landfill. Once we have reduced, reused and recycled as much of our waste as we can, ERFs transform any leftover waste into energy in the form of electricity and heat. The Dunbar ERF will process residual waste at high temperatures under carefully controlled conditions, to produce steam. The steam is used to drive a turbine generating electricity. Welcome to the latest newsletter updating local residents on progress being made on Viridor’s new £177m Energy Recovery Facility at Dunbar in East Lothian. Steady progress has been made in recent months and over 90% of construction on the Dunbar ERF is now complete. With the Dunbar ERF now well on its way to completion, the commissioning process is underway; a phase when each component is meticulously tested to ensure it is installed correctly and capable of operating safely and within the strict emissions limits as set out in its environmental permit. Once operational, the site will process up to 300,000 tonnes of post-recycling ‘residual’ waste per annum to generate over 30MW of base-load renewable electricity directly to the grid – enough to power 39,000 homes – and will also offer up to 10MW of heat for local use. Steam blowing As part of the commissioning process steam blowing is required to clean out the internal surfaces of the steam pipes by removing particles that can be left inside the system from the assembly and welding process. This may result in a series of noises being audible at the boundary of the site. The process may also produce a plume of steam which, depending on the weather conditions, may be visible from time to time. This is a normal and safe commissioning activity, but we will monitor the noise and steam dispersion to ensure disruption to the local community is minimal. The steam blowing may last approximately 15 minutes per procedure, with the procedure being repeated until the pipework is clean. This will take place in the coming months.
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Viridor Dunbar Energy Recovery Facility 1
Work advances on Dunbar ERF
What is an Energy Recovery Facility? Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs) are a safe and environmentally sustainable alternative to landfill. Once we have reduced, reused and recycled as much of our waste as we can, ERFs transform any leftover waste into energy in the form of electricity and heat. The Dunbar ERF will process residual waste at high temperatures under carefully controlled conditions, to produce steam. The steam is used to drive a turbine generating electricity.
Welcome to the latest newsletter updating local residents on progress being made on Viridor’s new £177m Energy Recovery Facility at Dunbar in East Lothian.
Steady progress has been made in recent months and over 90% of construction on the Dunbar ERF is now complete. With the Dunbar ERF now well on its way to completion, the commissioning process is underway; a phase when each component is meticulously tested to ensure it is installed correctly and capable of operating safely and within the strict emissions limits as set out in its environmental permit.
Once operational, the site will process up to 300,000 tonnes of post-recycling ‘residual’ waste per annum to generate over 30MW of base-load renewable electricity directly to the grid – enough to power 39,000 homes – and will also offer up to 10MW of heat for local use.
Steam blowing As part of the commissioning process steam blowing is required to clean out the internal surfaces of the steam pipes by removing particles that can be left inside the system from the assembly and welding process. This may result in a series of noises being audible at the boundary of the site.
The process may also produce a plume of steam which, depending on the weather conditions, may be visible from time to time. This is a normal and safe commissioning activity, but we will monitor the noise and steam dispersion to ensure disruption to the local community is minimal.
The steam blowing may last approximately 15 minutes per procedure, with the procedure being repeated until the pipework is clean. This will take place in the coming months.
Viridor Dunbar Energy Recovery Facility 2
Stephen Higginbottom, who is one of the Assistant Shift team leaders for the Operations team at the new Dunbar ERF and one of the Chirnside Juniors Football Club coaches, said: “As a Viridor employee I know how important it is to the company to be involved with communities in the areas it operates. I know the funding provided by Viridor will certainly help the club moving forward for the future.”
To find out how to apply for a donation, please visit: https://viridor.co.uk/sustainability/charitable-giving/ community-funding-and-sponsorship/
Meet our new dedicated Community Benefits Officer Sue Anderson is our new dedicated Community Benefits Officer for the Dunbar ERF. Sue has lived in Dunbar for 11 years and worked as an Additional Support Needs Auxiliary at Dunbar Primary School before joining Viridor.
One of Sue’s key responsibilities will be setting up and managing the Dunbar ERF visitor centre for educational visits. Sue will also assist in the provision of Viridor’s wide range of community benefits which include charitable donations, educational and training programmes and support to local businesses.
Further information
For further information on the Dunbar ERF, please visit www.viridor.co.uk/our-developments/dunbar-erf/
Contact our Freephone* Customer Care Hotline, which is supported 24 hours per day, 7 days a week on 0800 975 3029
A dedicated feedback form on our website can be accessed at https://viridor.co.uk/contact-us/site-feedback-form/*free from UK landlines, other networks may be charged.
East Lothian school triumphs at STEM awardsViridor once again demonstrated its commitment to the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector by sponsoring the annual Edinburgh and the Lothians Go4SET competition.Pupils from schools in Edinburgh & the Lothians celebrated their completion of a competition designed to launch them into stellar careers in STEM subjects.
One of the schools taking part was Dunbar Grammar School which was awarded the prize for Best Teamwork and will now progress to the national final.
Steven Don, Head of Local Authority Contracts Scotland, said: “Viridor is delighted to support the Go4SET programme across Scotland, challenging young people to think about their environment and future. Like Viridor, these young people are committed to their environment and conscious of how they utilise resources.”
New football equipment for local side Chirnside Juniors football club will be able to buy new training equipment for its young players after receiving a £400 donation from Viridor’s Charitable Donations Committee.
