Stoke-on-Trent Energy Recovery Facility

Stoke-on-Trent City Council owns and operates, through a third-party contract, a 210-kiloton Energy Recovery Facility (ERF). The Council also supplies third-party waste through a range of public sector and commercial contracts and takes a significant proportion of the benefits of power generation. The Council also secures an income through metals recovery and disposal of ash. 

Description

The current operating contract ends March 2030, with an option to extend to 2032 when the plant will have reached the end of its useful economic life. The new operating contract, recently procured, will see the ability to meet increased local commercial waste disposal needs through revised shares of available capacity. Investment and active management by the Council has seen availability achieved between 91% and 94%, which is exceptional for a plant of this age. 

Opportunity – Plant replacement post 2030

The City Council is to procure a 240-300-kiloton replacement facility for operation post-2030 for an anticipated 40-year operating life. The plant is to be constructed on the current site adjacent to the current facility and the Council is seeking direct investment, along with itself, into the new facility.

The new procurement will be for a plant that will be fully CHP-enabled, have enhanced emissions controls, and have future CCUS designed in. Planned district heat network and energy (power) contract options provide commercial opportunities for local utilisation and optimal economic benefits. Future planned works in support of the Council’s energy strategy also provide opportunities to exploit hydrogen electrolyser and EV fuelling stations for fleet operators. 

Why invest in Stoke-on-Trent?

Stoke-on-Trent is an ambitious city with big plans and, through partnership, we drive economic and inclusive growth across the city.

It is a place uniquely defined by its industrial and technological heritage, and, today, through its business base engaged in digital services and e-commerce –  harnessing the very same entrepreneurial spirit to transition fast and re-emerge as one of the UK’s biggest growth centres.

Key reasons to invest:

• Ranked second-fastest-growing economy for post-recession job creation
• Between Dec 2020 to June 2022, house prices increased 5.3%, with England at 2.9%
• 2016-2020, highest GVA growth per head at 21%
• £485m capital investment programme for next 5 years
• Ground-breaking partnership with Homes England to build 3000 new homes + £400m GVA
• Digital transformation supported by the University of Staffordshire, with its 3000-student-strong Digital School, and by Keele University, with their Digital Society Institute researching into AI transformation and application. Also the supply of low-carbon heat as from the mine water heat opportunity. Electrical grid indicated headroom of 150MW, with future enhancement to 230MW to support AI data centre(s) and eco-park development.
• The same location benefits that attracted Michelin in 1926 are, once again, bringing international businesses to Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Jaguar Land Rover, Amazon and Molson-Coors are just some of the names investing millions of pounds and creating thousands of jobs here.

Insights for investors

• Target investor(s): Advanced manufacturing, logistics, advanced ceramic
• Timescale: 2025-2026
• Planning status: Master-planning in 2025-2026