Green Energy: Waste to energy project takes shape in Perth, Vulcan adds ground for 'Zero Carbon' lithium

• WestStar’s Simpec on board for Perth waste to energy plant
• Vulcan adds tenure at European lithium project

Simpec on board for Perth energy to waste plant

Australia’s first waste to energy plant is beginning to take shape, with the Weststar Industrial (ASX:ASI) owned Simpec winning a $10 million contract from Acciona.

Spain’s Acciona, which is preparing one of the world’s biggest renewables IPO’s in its homeland valued at more than 10 billion Euros, is building the $430 million project in Perth’s Kwinana Industrial Complex for Macquarie Capital and DIF Capital Partners vehicle Avertas Energy.

Once opened the plant will divert about 400,000 tonnes of Perth landfill from long-term contracts with local councils.

That will be converted to energy using grate combustion technology, a process used in around 2000 similar plants around the world.

According to Avertas that will bring about a reduction of around 400,000t of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of taking 85,000 cars off Perth’s roads.

Simpec will install piping for the project by the end of 2021, which WestStar MD Mark Dimasi said will expose the contractor to the green energy sector.

The plant is expected to deliver about 36MW of power, and last week signed up industrial processing giant BOC via a PPA that will see BOC get 100% of its power from renewable sources at its Kwinana and Canning Vale from 2023 through to 2027.

It is one of a number of major industrial or commercial emitters turning to PPAs to green up their Australian enterprises, a trend expected to underpin the completion of the next wave of renewable generators.

WestStar Industrial share price today:

Vulcan Energy secures more ground at geothermal lithium project

Geothermal lithium play Vulcan Energy (ASX: VUL) has had an astronomic rise over the past 12 months.

It was up another 3.6% (30 cents) to $8.63 this morning as it added a new three-year exploration licence for geothermal energy, heat, brine and lithium in Germany’s upper Rhine Valley, adding another 108km2 to its holding in the European economic powerhouse.

Vulcan claims its process will become preferred choice for the lithium chemicals for climate conscious automakers, because it will according to managing director Francis Wedin “produce lithium with no fossil fuels and no greenhouse gas emissions”.

The ~$870 million capped developer appointed key consultants for the definitive feasibility study at its “Zero Carbon Lithium Project” earlier this month after raising $120 million in February.