Major waste-to-energy plant connected to London’s grid

UK Power Networks and Cory Group have partnered to connect one of the largest energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities in the UK to the electricity network.

The project will connect the new Riverside 2 EfW to the electricity network on the banks of the River Thames in Belvedere, London.

Non-recyclable waste

According to UKPN, Riverside 2 is projected to turn 650,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste into energy that could produce enough power for 176,000 homes.

Processing waste at Riverside 2 will prevent non-recyclable materials being sent to landfill or overseas, improving waste infrastructure in the capital. UKPN reports that Riverside 1, located on the same site, currently diverts around 800,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

UK Power Networks delivers electricity to some 20 million people across London, the south-east of England and east of England, and has completed the commissioning of a brand-new 132,000-volt circuit to connect the plant to the local grid.

“Riverside 2 will provide vital waste processing capacity for London and the south-east, as well as generating electricity for the grid”

In total 10.6km of cross-linked polyethylene cable has been used, with engineering innovation at the heart of the project using a cable route that manoeuvred around three different rivers and associated bridges, using directional drilling when needed, minimising environmental impact and disruption, as outlined below:

• River Darent: a steel pipeway was installed to carry the cable across the river, via the existing A206 bridge
• Norman Road: the cable was installed under the river using a directional drill
• River Cray: the cable was laid in a cable trough fixed to the underside of the existing bridge over the river, removing the need to drill beneath the waterway.

The new circuit will provide an extra 82.5 mega volt ampere (MVA) to the network to help cater for future electricity needs.