The $600 Million Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) project has reached a major milestone. The project consortium, comprising Opal, Veolia and Masdar Tribe Australia, has signed a multi-million dollar engineering design agreement with Spanish infrastructure group Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios SA (Cobra). Global energy solutions company Babcock & Wilcox will partner with Cobra to provide the world-class technology for the build.
Cobra will now deliver full design and construction costings for the project, including the potential to upsize the facility’s capacity to process 375,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per annum. A detailed Geotechnical investigation will commence at the site in early 2024.
This work will also prepare for the construction of the Bottom Ash recycling and Accelerated Carbonation Technology facilities, to be co-located on the EfW site.
Technology partner Babcock & Wilcox has previously worked closely with the Maryvale Mill, having supplied the site with boiler equipment used for energy generation. They will be responsible for delivering the moving grate furnace, boiler and flue gas treatment systems.
In the past 80 years, there have been more than 500 installations of Babcock & Wilcox technology in over 30 countries. This includes the CopenHill EfW plant in Copenhagen which features a roof-top ski slope and hiking trail for the local community to use.
As Victoria’s most progressed EfW project, the Maryvale facility will target a 99 per cent diversion of residual waste away from landfill, generating approximately 500 jobs in the construction phase and bringing a new energy sector to the Latrobe Valley. The project is the recipient of a $48.2 million grant from the Australian Government under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.
Opal’s CEO Chris Nagaura said the agreement with Cobra and Babcock & Wilcox is a major step forward for the EfW project.
“Cobra and Babcock & Wilcox bring their world-class construction and technology expertise to the Maryvale Energy from Waste project. They will play an important role in confirming the overall cost for the project, meaning the consortium can secure financing and commence construction in 2024”, said Nagaura.
The state-of-the-art EfW facility will be constructed at Opal Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill in the Latrobe Valley. Veolia, which already operates 65 state-of-the-art EfW facilities around the world, will operate and maintain the facility. The EfW facility will use non-recyclable residual waste to produce steam and electricity to supply the Mill. It will feature world-class, leading technology providing superior reliability, compliance to stringent emissions standards, superior energy efficiency and is targeting more than 99% diversion of waste away from landfill consistent with circular economy principles. The Maryvale EfW project has EPA Victoria and Latrobe City Council regulatory approvals for construction.
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