Kilroot Energy Park: A transition milestone
Following the announcement of the Kilroot Energy Park by EP UK Investments in 2020, the owners of the site are now moving forward with the next step in their vision through the construction of a multi-fuel combined heat and power facility.
Expected to be operational from 2027, this will be a modern, high-efficiency plant and will generate heat and power through the thermal treatment of fuels such as pre-treated non-recyclable waste and biomass.
Kilroot Energy Park
The Kilroot Energy Park concept was first unveiled by EP UK Investments (EPUKI) in July 2020 outlining a range of technologies and electricity generation solutions. The masterplan represents the largest ever single investment in electricity generation in Northern Ireland as well as one of the most important milestones in the decarbonisation of our electricity generation system.
The significant investment planned for the 230 acre site (up to £1 billion in total) has the potential to power over 500,000 homes and businesses, creating hundreds of high-quality construction and operational jobs in the process.
The vision for the Kilroot Energy Park received widespread support from key political and industry stakeholders with EPUKI demonstrating significant progress to date.
Delivering projects
Since the announcement of Kilroot Energy Park, over £200 million has already been invested by EPUKI following several successful planning approvals.
This has included the delivery of an underground natural gas transmission pipeline built to tie into the existing Belfast Transmission Gas Pipeline and the construction of two new lower carbon flexible Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs).
Transitioning from higher carbon to lower carbon emitting generation at the Kilroot site is a key part of the overall strategic plan for the site and this has been completed with the closure of the coal units at Kilroot in September 2023. This transition also paves the way for the next phase of developments at the site.
Next step in the vision
The Kilroot multi-fuel combined heat and power (CHP) facility is the next stage of development associated with Kilroot Energy Park. The project represents a further £350 million investment, creating approximately 340 construction jobs and over 40 full-time jobs once operational.
The facility will allow Northern Ireland to treat residual waste in a sustainable way, supporting the circular economy by reducing the dependence on landfill and removing the need to export waste to energy from waste plants overseas.
With a capacity to handle approximately 300,000 tonnes per annum, the Kilroot CHP will be able to treat the vast majority of residual waste arisings for all of Northern Ireland with the potential for future expansion as required. This includes pre-treated non-recyclable waste from household, industrial, and commercial sources as well as other fuels such as biomass.
Around 40MW of energy will be produced by the facility and this will be directly connected to the electricity transmission network through an underground link to the onsite Kilroot substation. There will also be an additional 25MW of heat, which may be used by local businesses or for domestic district heating. These associated benefits will drive further investment on the site as well as on adjacent land which is zoned for industrial use.
We have worked with independent market analysts in the bioenergy sector to establish that this project will solve the need for waste infrastructure in Northern Ireland for the foreseeable future while delivering clear environmental and economic advantages for Northern Ireland.
Implementation underway
EPUKI is a proven and established operator in the UK and Ireland energy sector and has vast experience of delivering significant and complex construction projects connected to our assets across Europe. This makes us extremely well placed to ensure robust management of the construction of this vital infrastructure.
Planning approval for the Kilroot CHP facility was received from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in May 2022 and pre-commencement planning conditions are currently being discharged. This is the first stage in getting ready for construction to commence.
We are currently working to obtain the remaining consents for the facility, and we have also begun discussions with engineering, procurement, and construction contractors. The construction programme itself will take around 36 months to complete.
Centre of excellence
The Energy Park seeks to become a centre of excellence and understanding for all aspects of electricity generation within Northern Ireland and for this reason, we are proposing to building an education and learning centre within the site, allowing schools and people, from all walks of life, to come and learn about how we strive to produce electricity in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly manner possible. This centre was approved as part of the planning application for the Kilroot CHP and will be constructed as an important part of this project.
We look forward to welcoming a range of stakeholders in the public and private sectors to the Kilroot Energy Park in the coming years to help highlight the importance of decarbonisation and the circular economy as we continue to play our part in tackling climate change.
Kieran Tubridy, Commercial Director, EPUKI
E: k.tubridy@epuki.ie
W: www.kilrootenergypark.com
