Sembcorp opens energy-from-waste plant

Located in Jurong Island’s Sakra district, the Sembcorp Woodchip Boiler Plant provides process steam to commercial customers on Jurong Island, using waste wood collected and processed by Sembcorp’s solid waste collection business.

With its integrated group expertise, Sembcorp has unique capabilities to manage the entire energy-from-waste value chain. Sembcorp’s solid waste management arm, the leading operator in Singapore, collects and recovers recyclables, timber, hardcore and fines from industrial and commercial waste as well as construction and demolition waste. By recovering waste wood meant for incineration and processing it into a resource – woodchip – to fuel the plant, Sembcorp creates value from waste and improves the competitiveness of industry on Jurong Island, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Sembcorp Woodchip Boiler Plant is also designed to the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Gold standard, incorporating natural ventilation and lighting, solar power and the use of recycled building material. At the same time, it is highly automated to ensure safety and efficiency, while increasing productivity.

Expansion of energy-from-waste capacity
Looking ahead, Sembcorp will maintain its strategic focus on energy-from-waste solutions and grow its capabilities in the renewable energy sector. To this end, the Group has set a target to supply one-third of its Sakra customers’ steam demand using alternative fuel by 2014.

In line with this aim, Sembcorp is pleased to announce the expansion of the woodchip boiler plant with the development of a second boiler, which will have a capacity of 40 tonnes per hour of steam. Upon completion of this second phase in the second half of 2013, the facility will be able to produce a total of 60 tonnes per hour of steam. Together, both boilers are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 70,000 tonnes a year.

In addition, Sembcorp will be developing two new energy-from-waste boilers on Jurong Island. The energy-from-waste boilers will utilise industrial and commercial waste collected and processed by Sembcorp’s solid waste collection business to produce 140 tonnes per hour of steam for existing customers. This facility, also to be located in Sakra, will increase Sembcorp’s supply of steam from alternative fuel and further enhance its competitiveness on Jurong Island.

When completed, the Sembcorp Woodchip Boiler Plant’s second boiler and the two new energy-from-waste boilers will increase Sembcorp’s energy-from-waste capacity by ten-fold.  

Ng Meng Poh, Sembcorp’s Executive Vice President, Singapore and ASEAN (Utilities), said, “Our woodchip boiler plant is significant for Sembcorp in our journey as a vital partner to the industry on Jurong Island. It is also a step forward in our strategy to grow our portfolio of renewable energy assets, and in particular, to offer sustainable and competitive energy-from-waste solutions to our customers in Sakra. This solution provides an alternative economical source of energy for our customers on Jurong Island while leveraging synergies between our solid waste management and energy businesses.”

© Sembcorp Industries / BulkInside