A consortium led by Marubeni Corporation has announced the financial close for an ultra-large waste-to-energy (WtE) facility in Abu Dhabi being developed on behalf of Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) and Tadweer Group.

The consortium also includes Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), a Swiss company specialising in energy-from-waste projects and the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN).

The WtE plant, being set up at a site near the Al Dhafra landfill in Abu Dhabi, will process 900,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste over the next 30 years. The aim of the project is to prevent the release of nearly 1.1 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. Furthermore, the plant will add 80 MW of power generation capacity from a non-fossil fuel source.

Ewec said it has provided the consortium formed by HZI and Alec-Butec  with the Notice-to-Proceed of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) works for this project.

As per the deal, Alec Butec JV will oversee the engineering, procurement, and construction of all non-process-related activities.

The project will involve the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the new WtE plant, said EWEC officials.

The facility will utilise one of the largest and most advanced moving grate technologies ever made to convert municipal solid waste into electricity by using a highly efficient water-steam cycle.