Waste-to-energy facility breaks ground in Ontario

In Ontario, Canada, energy-from-waste power generation company Covanta Energy has broken ground on its new plant, Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC).

Covanta Energy has designed the plant, and will build and operate it as well. Covanta Energy began planning the project in 2009 and it was approved in June 2011.

Following construction throughout 2013, operations are slated to begin in Q3-Q4 2014.

Upon completion, the DYEC will be able to generate 17.5MW of energy from 154,000 tonnes of waste material. This is enough to power around 10,000 homes.

The facility will also generate thermal energy for around 2,200 households.

'The groundbreaking signals the start of construction of the first energy-from-waste facility built in Ontario in 22 years,' says Bill Fisch, CEO and York region chairman. 'York and Durham regions are committed to the diversion of residual waste from landfill and thermal treatment of waste is smart technology to achieve our goals.'

Around 400 jobs will be created throughout the construction period, in addition to 35-40 fulltime positions when the facility opens for business.

The DYEC is expected to cost in the region of $250 million (€173 million) to build.

'The partnership with Durham and York and their decision to build this facility reinforces the important role that energy-from-waste plays in sustainable waste management efforts and in creating new reliable, renewable energy sources,' says president and CEO of Covanta Energy, Antony Orlando.

Learn about the Canadian biofuels market at the Biofuels International Canada expo & conference, held on 3-4 October 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Email rebecca@horseshoemedia.com for more details. Visit the event website at http://www.biofuels-news.com/global_events.php