Rookery South ERF, Bedfordshire, UK

The Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility in Bedfordshire, UK, transforms 545,000 tonnes of non-recyclable municipal and commercial waste each year into more than 60 MW of electricity. This is enough to power over 112,500 households. Built by Kanadevia Inova and commissioned in partnership with Covanta, Green Investment Group, and Veolia, the plant strengthens the UK’s move toward energy self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on landfill and waste exports. It also includes an upgrade option to supply district heating in the future.

Carefully sited in the former Rookery South brick clay extraction pit, the location was selected for its excellent transport links, central position within the waste catchment area, and natural topography, which helps integrate the facility into the surrounding landscape. Extensive landscaping and environmental enhancements, including new vegetation, water management features, recreational paths, and greened building elements, ensure long-term ecological and visual integration.

The facility incorporates Kanadevia Inova’s proven grate combustion technology together with its advanced CCS+ combustion control system, enabling high efficiency, extensive automation, and optimized operating performance. Heat from the combustion process generates superheated steam in a five-pass boiler, driving a turbine to produce over 60 MW of electricity. Integrated boiler monitoring helps prevent fouling and reduce operating costs.

To minimise emissions, the plant uses a state-of-the-art flue gas treatment system combining dry sorption, fabric filtration, and DyNOR^® SNCR technology. Continuous monitoring ensures compliance with stringent environmental standards, consistently achieving levels well below legal limits. The system is designed for future expansion, including potential heat or steam export.