Project Update Bulletin 10

The project update bulletin provides the latest progress on the construction of Gloucestershire’s Energy from Waste facility. Construction activity continues to focus on the concrete works which is progressing according to programme.

The floor slabs for the waste storage bunker (the area where waste will be temporarily stored before being processed) and the flue gas treatment hall (the process for cleaning the gases) have now been completed. Construction of the bunker by slip forming (a continuous concrete pouring process) has started. This method of construction will also be used to form the turbine hall located within the main boiler house.

The main concrete works will continue into mid-October. The turbine hall (which houses the main turbine) support columns are now under construction, and the foundations and base support for the chimney stack have been completed. The main items of site equipment comprise four cranes, three excavators, four dumpers, and three forklifts. Additional cranes have been brought in solely to assist in the concreting works for the bunker.

There are currently some 140 operatives on site during the day and some 50 operatives during the night for slipforming activities. Site operations and Health and Safety continue to a high standard. To implement the continuous concreting activities, night shifts are being worked under the notification scheme agreed with the Waste Planning Authority (Gloucestershire County Council) and Stroud District Council. One comment was raised by a local resident regarding noise from the site, and improved measures are now in place. Away from the site, Western Power Distribution are due to start work in September to lay cabling to allow the export of power from the site to the national grid.

The cable from the site will join the grid at the Ryeford sub-station to the south of Stonehouse. The work is scheduled for completion in spring 2018.

The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste facility is part of Gloucestershire Council’s wider waste and resources management strategy to reduce, recycle and recover waste materials across the county and to move away from reliance on end-of-life landfill.

For more information about the project, please visit www.ubbgloucestershire.co.uk. Our emergency out-of-hours contact telephone number is 07860 268578.