Slough Multifuel

This important project aims to significantly reduce the volume of waste being sent to landfill and will generate around 49.9 MW of electricity per year to power local homes.

The Main Civils works packages include:

Temporary works/logistics – our scope of works includes drainage and de-watering of lay-down areas until handover, dewatering inside the waste bunker, dust suppression to all areas of site, wheel washing and cleaning equipment, road sweeping, storm water and snow clearance, RC bases for temporary substations and distribution boards.

Earthworks – this includes backfill to waste bunker and ground bearing slabs (load transfer platforms), preparation of laydown and preassembly areas, road and ramp formation, breaking down CMC piles for deep bases and pits only. Majority of CMC breakdown is done by others.

Utilities and roads – this includes interceptors and attenuation tanks, fire water storage tanks, firemain (external), potable water supply, construction stage and permanent electrical and comms ducting, drainage, earthing installation, car parks and access ramp surfacing and permanent fencing.

Concrete and structures – our scope of works includes blinding concrete (ex. waste bunker), tipping hall RC works (plinths, walls, slabs and precast), tower crane bases, waste bunker slab and slip formed walls, RC hopper decks, boiler house RC slab, boiler house core, flue gas RC slab and pits, future stack RC foundation, turbine hall RC slab and bunkers, RC bases to other features, ramp including retaining structure, piers, precast beams and RC deck, along with elements of precast cladding.

The main bulk of the concrete works our team conducted throughout the project was the construction of the 30m high bunker which will store the waste upon completion in September 2022. To construct the waste bunker, we used a cost- and resource-effective slipform methodology (assembled at level -2m and slipped from here to a height of +28m), with a continuous pour which took place over the course of two weeks.

This methodology enabled us to successfully build the huge structure, with its internal measurements of 22m x 44m, in only 14 days.

In total 4,350m3 of concrete was used to form the waste bunker, where the 120 strong team worked in shifts 24/7.

The work began in July 2021 on an initial 12-month contract that was extended due to unforeseen issues with contaminated water and groundwork that needed to be removed.

In keeping with our dedication to protect the environment and minimise disruption to site surroundings, we implemented a close monitoring system during ground compaction works. This also kept us fully compliant with the project’s strict noise and vibration parameters.

After going into full commercial operation, expected in 2024, the plant will process around 480,000 tonnes per year of mainly commercial waste from the Greater London Area, and generate around 49.9 MW of electricity that will be fed into the National Grid. Additionally, up to 23 tonnes of processed steam per hour will be delivered to a nearby food factory. When completed, Slough Multifuel will play a key role in the UK’s sustainable waste management, diverting thousands of tonnes of waste away from landfill, and instead converting it into a valuable source of energy with any leftover bi-product to be reused as fertiliser. Slough Multifuel is the latest project being added to our continuing portfolio of EfW projects including Millerhill, Lostock and Ferrybridge.