The facility, which is expected to commence full operations at the beginning of 2024, will be able to process non-recyclable commercial and industrial waste as well as Local Authority collected waste from a variety of sources. The site will be able to process an annual throughput of 400,000 tonnes of waste, most of which will come from leading UK sustainable waste management company Biffa Waste Services as well as from a variety of other waste management companies.
Located near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, the facility will be built within Peel L&P Environmental’s Protos energy and resource hub, a site that clusters together innovative technologies and connects energy-intensive operations with sources of low-carbon energy. The ultimate goal for the site is to generate enough energy to power around 90,000 homes each year.
The Ashurst team was led by partners Cameron Smith and Patrick Boyle, supported by consultants Michael Smith and Karen Braakman, counsel David Razzell, senior associates Nicholas Monks, Charlie Reid and Shan Koh, and associates Luiza Wojciszke, Elle Hansen, Wilson Lu, Zarin Begum, Victoria Stagg and Olivia Barton.
Commenting partner Cameron Smith said:
"Following on from the close of the Newhurst EfW project in February, this is the second EfW project to reach financial close this year for this same group of Sponsors. Challenges included: very complex property and GridCo arrangements, and the need for a fully remote signing process during the COVID-19 lockdown. We were therefore glad to have very experienced sponsors and seasoned deal teams acting on behalf of the sponsors and funders. Without this experience on all sides, the deal wouldn't have been possible."
