Monsal reference base expansion continues with Tamar Energy order

ADBA MEMBER PRESS RELEASE

Monsal, the UKs leading advanced digestion specialist has secured a major order with Tamar Energy to provide the complete technology package for the 45,000 tonne, 2 MWe Halstead food waste digestion project.

The food waste digestion plant incorporates a complete technology package from Monsal including:

• Waste reception equipment
• Waste de-packaging equipment
• Hydrolysis plant
• Pasteurisation plant
• Anaerobic digestion with Monsal SGM mixing technology
• Biogas management system
• Digestate management system
• Odour extraction and treatment technology

Tamar Energy is a specialist renewable energy business that focuses solely on anaerobic digestion (AD). Tamar Energy has a stated long-term aim of building a UK network of 40 AD plants and producing 100 MW of renewable base-load electricity by 2018.

Monsal’s managing director, Aidan Cumiskey, said

Monsal is working with Tamar Energy on its first investment phase after an extensive due diligence process. Tamar Energy can take advantage of our unparalleled track record on food waste digestion to get high quality assets at a competitive investment cost. We are very pleased to support Tamar Energy’s development programme on this and future projects.

The project is already off to a fast start construction programme, led by Principal Contractor, Barhale Construction.

The new AD plant will be situated on land adjacent to the Bluebridge Industrial Estate in Halstead, Essex. Construction began on 24 June 2013 and is expected to last for approximately 12 months, with the finished plant estimated to create five full-time jobs once operational.

Thomas Burgess, delivery project manager for Tamar Energy’s Halstead facility, explained,

Tamar Energy will take organic waste from the local area and ensure it is treated in the way which provides the greatest benefits – as a renewable energy source. The new facility will have the capacity to meet the electricity demands of around 5,000 homes each year, create new jobs and offer an environmental improvement to current organic waste management practices.

The project delivery team includes Monsal and Barhale working with existing suppliers Clarke Energy to deliver fast track high quality AD infrastructure. The Halstead project will incorporate Jenbacher CHP engines with a total electrical output of 2 MW.

“One of the significant challenges on this project is programme. Using our standard technology templates with a specialist construction contractor means we can deliver an accelerated programme” said Aidan Cumiskey.

Delivery of such fast track projects relies on efficient collaboration between all parties, and the integration of Barhale, Monsal and Royal Haskoning has led to a strong multiskilled team and proven to be successful in delivering certainty of delivery for Tamar Energy.