Lancs firm has China in its hands
AN energy and environmental consultancy is preparing to help China’s shift to greener technologies and is set for growth after agreeing a partnership with a major Chinese organisation.
Stopford Energy and Environment has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese company CN Homeland to develop a multi-million pound pilot ‘Plasma Gasification Plant’ to convert mixed waste to energy.
The agreement is one of the first partnerships between UK and Chinese companies as part of the innovative Lancaster China Catalyst Programme – which is bringing together UK and Chinese businesses on research and development projects to create new services and products for global markets.
Director of research and environment at Stopford Energy and Environment, Dr Ben Herbert, said: “Sustainable waste management is a big problem in China. While incineration technology is still the favoured thermal process for the destruction of waste, there is an ever increasing public resistance to the development of new schemes due to the perceived health risks associated with stack emissions from such facilities.
“Plasma Gasification schemes therefore serve as a sustainable alternative to incineration, in that materials of value are recovered from the waste before thermal treatment and, given the high operational temperatures of such plant, the emissions of toxic dioxin and furan species to the atmosphere are significantly reduced.
“This project is a significant opportunity to take our knowledge and experience from the sector to deliver bespoke solutions to Chinese markets.”
Stopford, which has offices in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, Chester University and on campus at Lancaster University, will be acting as consulting engineers for the development of the scheme. CN Homeland will oversee the local design and construction of the facility– they also have the local contacts with the waste operators and energy distributors.
