It has been announced that the technology group Kanadevia Inova will acquire the Irish operations of energy-from-waste (EfW) company Encyclis.

Encyclis operates the Dublin Waste to Energy Facility under a 38-year contract and will continue to hold a 50% ownership stake in the facility alongside its co-shareholders. The acquisition agreement includes a provision to increase the annual capacity of the EfW site by 90,000 tonnes, bringing the total to 690,000 tonnes per year.

As part of the acquisition, approximately 60 Encyclis employees currently based at the Dublin plant will join Kanadevia Inova’s workforce of 3,200 employees. While the deal is pending approval, Encyclis will continue to manage the plant as it has for the past eight years. Formal completion of the transaction is expected in the summer, contingent upon obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.

Bruno-Frederic Baudouin, CEO of Kanadevia Inova, commented: “We are excited to begin the process of integrating the Dublin operations and maintenance team, whose expertise will add significant value to our European operations. Kanadevia Inova’s ability to enhance plant performance at a fraction of the cost of a new-build, while providing a guarantee through the O&M contract, is a transformative development in the industry.”

Thomas Feilenreiter, Executive Vice President of Systems and Service Solutions at Kanadevia Inova, added: “The Dublin Waste to Energy Facility team is highly skilled and will bring new capabilities and perspectives to our plant lifecycle services. At Kanadevia Inova, we place our customers at the heart of everything we do, and we are confident this agreement will deliver long-term benefits to them.”

The Dublin Waste to Energy Facility, located on the Poolbeg Peninsula, began operations in 2017. Kanadevia Inova (formerly known as Hitachi Zosen Inova) was the principal contractor for the design, build, and commissioning of the plant, while Encyclis was the developer. The facility processes up to 600,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually and generates sufficient electricity to power approximately 115,000 homes, with this capacity set to increase following the planned upgrades.

The facility operates as a public-private partnership (PPP) between Dublin City Council (on behalf of the four Dublin Local Authorities) and three private entities: Encyclis, fund manager DIF Capital Partners, and asset management firm MEAG.

In addition to the Dublin operations, Encyclis will continue to manage a portfolio of energy recovery facilities (ERFs) in the UK, including Rookery South ERF in Bedfordshire, Newhurst ERF in Leicestershire, Earls Gate Energy Centre in Scotland, Protos ERF in West Cheshire, and Walsall ERF in the West Midlands. The Protos and Walsall ERFs are currently under construction.

Owen Michaelson, CEO of Encyclis, stated: “We have a long-standing strategic relationship with Kanadevia Inova, which has been responsible for the design, construction, and commissioning of three of our operational plants, with work ongoing on a fourth. Encyclis remains committed to continuous optimisation to ensure exceptional performance across our portfolio now and in the future. We operate in a dynamic sector that demands innovative thinking and a proactive approach. This strategic agreement with Kanadevia Inova ensures stability for our Dublin employees and other stakeholders moving forward.”

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