Rivenhall EfW
An EfW facility based upon conventional combustion technology, located in Rivenhall, Essex which reached operational handover in April 2026[12]. The facility is permitted to have a capacity of 590,000 tonnes per year.
The project was developed by Indaver and is to be operated for them under an O&M agreement with Kanadevia Inova.
Site Details
| Operator | Indaver |
|---|---|
| Site | Rivenhall EFW |
| Size | Large |
| Permit No | FP3335YU |
| Plated Capacity | 595 |
| Status | Operational |
Plant Description
The construction groundworks preparation was reported to have commenced in February 2021, with a 4 year construction plan to deliver the plant by the end of 2025[6] at a cost of £500m[1].
It was announced that Hitachi Zosen Inova (now Kanadevia Inova) were appointed as the EPC contractor with a notice to proceed on the 9th May 2022 with a commercial operations target date of Q1 2026[7]
The EfW will utilise 2 lines of a moving-grate combustion technology[1][10].
It was announced that the project hand completed construction and commissioining in April 2026, and Kanadevia Inova had commenced the O&M arrangements for the project[12].
History
The project was developed by Gent Fairhead and was sold to Indaver in January 2021 as part of the project reaching financial close, with Gent Fairhead leasing the site to Indaver and retaining other developments on the site[2].
The planning consent for the site is for an Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) which comprised composting, Anaerobic Digestion(30,000 tpa), MBT (170,000tpa), MRF (300,000tpa) and a paper mill/pulp plant (170,000tpa) under the same planning consent[3] [4][10]. In Aug 2024 Indaver started the revision to the permit to allow the phased development of the site[11] and a fully consolidated permit was issued in Nov 2025[10].
The site has a long history of local opposition and challenge through the planning and permitting processes, including issues associated with the height of the stack, which is 35 metres[5].
The facility will use a feedstock of household and similar commercial and industrial residual waste[1]. It was announced in Aug 2024 that Rivenhall will receive 337,000 tonnes a year of residual waste from Essex County Council[9].
References:
- Indaver Website
- Indaver Website Article Jan 2021
- Essex Development and Regulation Report 26th April 2019
- Yellow Advertiser Article March 2021
- Letsrecycle Article Jun 2020
- Indaver Website Article Feb 2021
- Kanadevia Inova Website Article May 2021
- Indaver Website Article Aug 2025
- Essex County Council Aug 2024
- Permit
- Fictner Non-Technical Summary to Vary Permit Aug 2024
- Kanadevia Inova Website Article April 2026
