Styled with a modest lowercase, enfinium, a UK “energy from waste” operator, has received its first waste delivery by train at Ferrybridge. The site in West Yorkshire, in the North of England, is synonymous with energy generation, but it has changed over the years. The power stations here were originally coal-fired. Now, this inaugural train to the enfinium Ferrybridge 1 and Ferrybridge 2 facilities makes the incineration of waste for energy more socially and environmentally acceptable, by reducing road traffic and transport emissions.

The waste-by-rail delivery trial was conducted in collaboration with enfinium’s industry partner, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, and with rail freight operator Freightliner. Around 700 tonnes of household waste were delivered to Ferrybridge using pre-existing railhead infrastructure linking back to the site’s heritage as a coal-fired power station. The trial also highlighted the potential for using rail freight to connect the plant to a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) cluster, offering an alternative to pipeline connections.

Diverting away from climate damaging landfill

“Rail transport is a critical part of our plans to transform our Ferrybridge site into a decarbonisation hub,” said Doctor Jane Atkinson, Chief Operating Officer at enfinium. “Not only will greater use of rail reduce our emissions, but it marks an important milestone for our carbon capture deployment plans. Transporting CO2 by rail to a coastal cluster for permanent storage offshore is one of the ways we can accelerate decarbonisation. I am grateful for the support of SUEZ and Freightliner in enabling us to achieve this step.”

Using rail freight will allow a greater volume of unrecyclable waste to be delivered to enfinium’s Ferrybridge site. It can now take more deliveries from across a wider area of the North of England, diverting it away from climate-damaging landfill. The train used on this first delivery displaced around 40 waste trucks from the roads. According to the waste company, enfinium has committed to reaching net zero across its operations by 2033.

Rail opens up Carbon Capture and Storage

We’ve gained significant experience moving waste by trains elsewhere in the country,’ said Daniel Carolan from SUEZ. The company already moves waste from West London to a facility near Bristol. “It was great to work with enfinium and Freightliner to make this delivery a reality and see the first waste delivery by train to Ferrybridge. More opportunities to move waste by train allows the industry to think differently about how waste is transported and disposed.”

The delivery also marks a significant step for enfinium’s carbon removal plans. In addition to reducing enfinium’s operating emissions, active rail infrastructure opens up the possibility that enfinium can connect to one of the UK’s emerging Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) clusters by rail, rather than pipeline. “We are delighted to be involved in this important and first-of-its-kind trial alongside enfinum and SUEZ,” said Ed Wilson, Commercial Director at Freightliner. “This trial showcases the importance of the development of rail across the UK and beyond to support and help achieve key sustainability targets, and remove traffic from our busy road network.”

Ferrybridge is the largest energy from waste plant in the UK, diverting up to 1.45 million tonnes of waste from landfill and generating 170 MW of energy, enough to power 340,000 homes per annum.