Some opportunities are just too good to miss and having the chance to be part of a project of the scale and environmental pedigree of Hooton Bio Power Station in Cheshire was one such opportunity.
The Hooton Bio Power Station is under construction with a projected completion date of around the latter half of 2021. It is a unique project using EfW (Energy from Waste) principles to generate power. In terms of its location, it is being built on the banks of the Mersey in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. It will represent the first non-subsidised waste gasification of such a scale that will be based on fluidised bed tech. The initial development stage was handled by CoGen, before selling to Aviva Investors. The gasification technology is being provided by Japanese company Kobelco Eco Solutions.
This year has given many industry figures pause for thought as to how we can strive towards a greener economy, using the pandemic as a catalyst for change. This sort of project represents the perfect example of looking towards a more environmentally sustainable future, while remaining wholly economically viable. In layman’s terms this kind of power station converts methane waste into energy while yielding net zero carbon emissions.
The power station will be immensely potent in terms of its energy creation. The capacity of the station will be vast and around 240-270,000 tonnes of municipal waste will be processed each year, resulting in the generation of 25.2 MW of electricity. After the plant’s needs are met the surplus energy will be exported to the grid and is projected to be able to power around 50,000 homes. As you can see, this is a very substantial project and being involved in it is a privilege and a real boost to Eagle Platforms’ burgeoning profile and portfolio of clients.
So, what exactly are Eagle Platforms bringing to the Hooton Bio Power Station project? The involvement is on two primary levels. Firstly, Eagle Platforms are helping fulfil the construction and operational requirements of the build by providing a plethora of equipment, summed up as follows:
- A number of different scissor lifts, from 6m smaller models to 17m beasts.
- Cherry pickers with a range of maximum heights from 12m to 41m, including the brand new zero emission HA41PRO.
- A number of contractors on site will coordinate the equipment requirements.
The second part of Eagle Platforms’ Hooton duties will be in providing a stellar range of IPAF and PASMA accredited training to ensure that everyone working on site is fully versed in safe working practice. The training courses provided by Eagle Platforms will include:
- IPAF 3A and 3B courses
- Harness Loading
- MEWPs for Managers
- PASMA scaffold training
- Telehandler driver training
In a project of this scale the importance of high quality training cannot be overstated. A fully trained workforce will reduce the risk of injury and downtime and increase motivation levels and boost productivity. Eagle Platforms are delighted to have been entrusted with this and are excited to stay involved in the project until completion.