Dublin waste to energy

RPS, in conjunction with a joint venture partner COWI were Client Representative providing project management, planning, environmental, policy, contractual and communication services.  The plant has a capacity of 600,000 tonnes per annum generating 60 MW of power which is exported to the national grid to supply over 80,000 homes.

Over the period 2001-’07, the Dublin Waste to Energy project, which was part of a newly adopted integrated waste plan for Dublin City Council on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, was successfully brought by RPS through site selection, planning and the waste authorisation process.   

Construction commenced in autumn 2014 and the plant was commissioned in 2017. This completed implementation of the Dublin Regional Waste Management Plan first adopted in 2001 and will entirely remove the need for further landfill of residual municipal waste generated in Dublin to be replaced by maximum realistic recycling and energy recovery/district heating.

This project will continue to evolve with plans to capture heat from the plant and supply homes and businesses in the city using a newly built district heating system.  The complete project, plant and district heating system, is the city’s key climate change infrastructure adaption measures enhance the sustainability of Ireland’s capital city.

Project timeline

  • 1998

    Dublin’s First Waste Management Strategy includes Thermal Treatment

  • 2007

    Planning Approval was received from An Bord Pleanála.

  • 2008

    Waste Licence was received from the Environmental Protection Agency.

  • 2014

    Project approved by the four Dublin local authority CEOs.

  • 2015

    Construction of plant commences.

  • 2017

    Plant operational

1 /06
1998

Dublin’s First Waste Management Strategy includes Thermal Treatment

2007

Planning Approval was received from An Bord Pleanála.

2008

Waste Licence was received from the Environmental Protection Agency.

2014

Project approved by the four Dublin local authority CEOs.

2015

Construction of plant commences.

2017

Plant operational

Key details

Project name

  • Dublin Waste to Energy

Client

  • Dublin City Council

Location

  • Dublin, Ireland

Services provided

  • Building Services
  • Building & Structures
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Management
  • Health & Safety
  • Project Communications
  • Waste

Challenge

RPS along with project partners faced a number of complex challenges on this project. 

The Dublin Waste to Energy project was a highly sensitive project to develop. Strong opposition from the local community centred on the use of incineration as a suitable waste treatment solution and the generation of emissions from the proposed facility.

In addition the project became the focus of some local political opposition resulting in severe delays (2007-’11).  The project was stalled during a political hiatus 2009 – 2011. This was followed by environmental and commercial objections to the EU Commission on State Aid and Procurement.

Poolbeg.JPG

Solution

RPS' role on this project included site selection; managing the entire process through to construction; managing input and baseline monitoring for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); managing the planning and licensing process including Oral Hearings for planning permissions and waste licence; foreshore and CER licence applications.

RPS were also responsible for a feasibility study assessing the viability of a citywide district heating network for Dublin, Route Selection and clients representative for the laying of pipes at Spencer Dock and Liffey Tunnel.

RPS managed communications and stakeholder consultation throughout the process, as consultation with the local community was a key element in the project. The genuine concerns over emissions were comprehensively dealt with through an innovative stakeholder engagement process including assembling a Community Interest Group (CIG) to represent the views of local people. RPS brought in World Health Organisation experts, GPs and independent health professionals with experience of incineration in other European countries to talk to local people and address their concerns

To address environmental and commercial objections to the European Commission RPS led the response team preparing detailed submissions to the EU Commission oon policy, environmental, waste and commercial issues.  These complaints were eventually rejected by the EU and the project was approved by the four Dublin local authority CEOs in September 2014. 

Project statistics

600,000
Tonnes of residual waste managed annually.
60
MWe of power dispatched to the National Grid to supply over 80,000 homes.
€600,000
Community gain fund provided annually to local projects
250,000
Tonnes less fossil fuels imported to produce electricity.

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