SSE has announced the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1) project has completed its commissioning phase.

The FM1 project, a joint venture (JV) between SSE and Wheelabrator Technologies, has now entered full commercial operation.

The facility takes waste derived fuel from various sources of municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste. It is now capable of contributing around 70MW of electricity to the National Grid, enough to power approximately 160,000 homes.


The new power station has been under construction for over three years by Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) who are the main contractor.

Commercial operation marks the culmination of months of commissioning activities to prove the new power station's capabilities.

HZI have now handed over full responsibility to the 46-strong Multifuel Energy operational team who will now run the FM1 facility.

The final milestone in the commissioning works was reached on 31 July when HZI completed a series of operability tests.

Franz-Josef Mengede, CEO of Hitachi Zosen Inova said: "Today marks the end of the construction phase to build the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 project.

"We are proud to deliver a plant that sets a new milestone in fuel flexibility, size and energy efficiency to our customer safely and within the expected timeframe."

(LM)