I read with interest the letter by Jim Duffy ‘South London incinerator is not economically viable’.

For the purposes of accuracy and clarification I would make the following points.

The headline to the letter itself is misleading as its contents appear to relate to the viability of using the heat by-product from our proposed Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) rather than to that of the whole project.

Furthermore, it is incorrect to suggest that all ERFs with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) are not viable or undeliverable.

Viridor is currently building the UK’s largest ERF with CHP in Runcorn which will be operational later this year, successfully supplying electricity and heat to the adjacent manufacturing plant, and in doing so reducing the plant’s fossil fuel use and protecting local jobs.

Other ERFs in the UK and across Europe already deliver CHP. Similar ERF developments are underway in Exeter, Oxfordshire and Cardiff where Viridor will produce electricity for the National Grid to help power homes and where we will also be exploring real opportunities to utilise the heat once operational.

The proposed ERF in Beddington will handle non-hazardous residual waste to produce 26 megawatts of electricity – equivalent to that needed to power over 30,000 homes.

Heat can also be utilised locally and we are fully committed to working with the London Borough of Sutton and local businesses towards that aim, thus maximising efficiency and benefits.

Altogether, the proposed ERF is the best viable alternative to landfill disposal in both economic and environmental terms.

Importantly, it will create significant economic benefits such as the creation of jobs and savings to the tax payers in the four London Boroughs it is designed to serve.

Robert Ryan; Head of Projects, Viridor

 

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