Viridor contracts Clugnston to build Avonmouth waste-to-energy plant

UK-based waste management company Viridor has appointed CNIM S.A. and Clugston Construction to build a new £252 million, 34MW waste-to-energy plant on an industrial site in Avonmouth on the outskirts of Bristol.

Viridor, a part of the Pennon Group (LSE: PNN) said that industrial engineering contractor CNIM will provide the established technology for the new, consented facility and Clugston has been appointed as the building and civils contractor. 

Construction is expected to start this summer, with more than 600 people working on site during peak construction and 45 permanent roles created during operations.

The facility will process 320,000 tonnes of non-recyclable residual waste each year, which would otherwise go to landfill.

As part of that transition Viridor recently signed a 25-year contract with Somerset County Council, brokered by Somerset Waste Partnership, which will see about a third of the available capacity at Avonmouth being taken up, by diverting waste that is currently transported to three landfill sites.

Once operational in 2020, the new waste-to-energy plant at Avonmouth will generate 34MW of energy for the National Grid – said to be enough electricity to power 44,000 homes.

Viridor added that the project is committed to delivering local economic benefit including construction roles and supply chain opportunities.  CNIM and Clugston, in partnership with Viridor, will be organising local job fairs and meet the buyer events in due course.

“The development creates an exciting opportunity to support the South West community and Bristol’s progress towards creating a low- carbon economy, following the city’s successful year as European Green Capital,” said Viridor’s managing director Phil Piddington.