Skip to content
WSP WSP
WSP WSP
  • Who we are
    We are the sum of our collective passion, vision and expertise.

    Discover our people, purpose and stories that have helped shape the organisation we are today and are inspiring the one we will become.

    Who we are
    • Our story
    • Corporate responsibility
    • Leadership team
    • Future ready
    • Our impact
    Corporate responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate governance
    • Decarbonisation
    • Ethics and integrity
    • Health and safety
    • Inclusion and belonging
    • Indigenous participation
    • Meet the changemakers
    • Sustainability
    Featured content
    thn-future-ready
    Future Ready™

    With Future Ready we see the future more clearly and challenge our teams across the…

  • What we do
    We work together with clients to plan, design, create and deliver innovative projects that shape the world.


    View All

    • Sectors
    • Services
    • Projects
    What we do
    • Property and buildings
    • Transport and infrastructure
    • Earth and environment
    • Resources, industry and energy
    • Water
    • Advisory services
    Property and buildings
    • Aged care
    • Biotech and pharmaceutical
    • Commercial and mixed use
    • Convention and civic
    • Data centres
    • Defence
    • Education
    • Existing buildings
    • Healthcare
    • Heritage & adaptive reuse
    • Hospitality
    • Indigenous specialist services
    • Residential
    • Retail
    • Science
    • Sports and stadia
    • Timber
    • Workplace
    Transport and infrastructure
    • Aviation
    • Bridges and structures
    • Cities
    • Freight
    • Indigenous specialist services
    • Ports
    • Rail and transit
    • Roads
    • Smart mobility
    • Transport advisory
    • Tunnels
    Earth and environment
    • Communications and engagement
    • Construction management
    • Contaminated land and soil remediation
    • Defence
    • Ecology
    • Environment
    • Environment, health and safety
    • Environmental planning
    • Geotechnical and tunnelling
    • Indigenous specialist services
    • Occupational health and hygiene
    Resources, industry and energy
    • Energy in transition
    • Hydrogen
    • Hydropower
    • Indigenous specialist services
    • Mining
    • Power and energy
    • Process engineering and process safety
    • Solar
    • Thermal energy and bioenergy
    • Wind energy
    Water
    • Drinking water supply
    • Water infrastructure
    • Water security and efficiency
    • Water treatment
    Advisory services
    • Climate change and resilience
    • Communications and engagement
    • Digital solutions
    • Indigenous specialist services
    • Infrastructure advisory
    • Net zero
    • Social strategy, community and place
    • Sustainability
  • Insights
    Our global experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh conversations and finding new solutions.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

    With us, you can. Make your best impact with WSP, where the culture and people also make it the best work of your life.

    Find out more
    Careers
    • Job opportunities
    • Early Career
    • Experienced professionals
    • Why join us?
    Why join us?
    • Perks and benefits
    Featured content
    thn-changemakers-2024a
    MEET THE #WSPCHANGEMAKERS

    We are a group of passionate and collaborative people working together to have an…

  • Who we are
    • Our story
    • Corporate responsibility
      • Who we are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate governance
        • Decarbonisation
        • Ethics and integrity
        • Health and safety
        • Inclusion and belonging
        • Indigenous participation
        • Meet the changemakers
        • Sustainability
    • Leadership team
    • Future ready
    • Our impact
  • What we do
    • Property and buildings
      • What we do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Aged care
        • Biotech and pharmaceutical
        • Commercial and mixed use
        • Convention and civic
        • Data centres
        • Defence
        • Education
        • Existing buildings
        • Healthcare
        • Heritage & adaptive reuse
        • Hospitality
        • Indigenous specialist services
        • Residential
        • Retail
        • Science
        • Sports and stadia
        • Timber
        • Workplace
    • Transport and infrastructure
      • What we do
        • Aviation
        • Bridges and structures
        • Cities
        • Freight
        • Indigenous specialist services
        • Ports
        • Rail and transit
        • Roads
        • Smart mobility
        • Transport advisory
        • Tunnels
    • Earth and environment
      • What we do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Communications and engagement
        • Construction management
        • Contaminated land and soil remediation
        • Defence
        • Ecology
        • Environment
        • Environment, health and safety
        • Environmental planning
        • Geotechnical and tunnelling
        • Indigenous specialist services
        • Occupational health and hygiene
    • Resources, industry and energy
      • What we do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Energy in transition
        • Hydrogen
        • Hydropower
        • Indigenous specialist services
        • Mining
        • Power and energy
        • Process engineering and process safety
        • Solar
        • Thermal energy and bioenergy
        • Wind energy
    • Water
      • What we do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Drinking water supply
        • Water Efficiency
        • Water infrastructure
        • Water security and efficiency
        • Water treatment
    • Advisory services
      • What we do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Climate change and resilience
        • Communications and engagement
        • Digital solutions
        • Indigenous specialist services
        • Infrastructure advisory
        • Net zero
        • Social strategy, community and place
        • Sustainability
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Job opportunities
    • Early Career
    • Experienced professionals
    • Why join us?
      • Careers
        • Perks and benefits
Select your language and location

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

International
  • Global
    English — Français
Americas
  • Brazil
    Português
  • Canada
    English — Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English
Africa
  • South Africa
    English
Asia
  • China
    中文(简体) — English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Indonesia
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) — English
  • Thailand
    English
Europe
  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Hungary
    English
  • Italy
    Italiano
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch — Français
  • Turkey
    Turkish
  • United Kingdom
    English
Middle East
  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English
Oceania
  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide offices
    • Investors
      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Find out more
      Investors
      • Corporate governance
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
      • Stock information
      • Shareholder information
      • Presentations and events
      Corporate governance
      • Audit committee
      • Board of directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating documents
      • Governance documents
      • Governance ethics and compensation committee
      • Mandates
      Reports and filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR+ filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock information
      • Analyst coverage
      Shareholder information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured content
      Thn-Web-IR-2025-Q1-Results
      WSP's Q1 2025 Results

      We released our 2025 first quarter results on May 7, 2025 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit committee
          • Board of directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating documents
          • Governance documents
          • Governance ethics and compensation committee
          • Mandates
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR+ filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst coverage
      • Shareholder information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and events
    • Events
    • News
    • Contact us
      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      Contact us to find out how our diversified offering, world-class expertise and geographical reach can assist you in achieving your vision.

      Contact Us

      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Request a proposal
      • Talk to us
      • Find an expert
      • Offices
    • Investors
      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Find out more
      Investors
      • Corporate governance
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
      • Stock information
      • Shareholder information
      • Presentations and events
      Corporate governance
      • Audit committee
      • Board of directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating documents
      • Governance documents
      • Governance ethics and compensation committee
      • Mandates
      Reports and filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR+ filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock information
      • Analyst coverage
      Shareholder information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured content
      Thn-Web-IR-2025-Q1-Results
      WSP's Q1 2025 Results

      We released our 2025 first quarter results on May 7, 2025 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit committee
          • Board of directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating documents
          • Governance documents
          • Governance ethics and compensation committee
          • Mandates
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR+ filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst coverage
      • Shareholder information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and events
    • Events
    • News
    • Contact us
      • Request a proposal
      • Talk to us
      • Find an expert
      • Offices
      • Contractors and Suppliers
  1. We are WSP
  2. Insights
  3. How can energy from waste give old coal power stations a new lease of life? 

How can energy from waste give old coal power stations a new lease of life?

With the idea of dumping household refuse in landfill being consigned to history, the UK is bringing more energy-from-waste plants online. Many are new-build, but what if you could convert an old coal-fired power station to burn waste cleanly and generate electricity? 

map marker United Kingdom | Tuesday, 2 April 2019

That’s the exciting question we’re helping one client answer, and it’s a question that opens a host of possibilities. 

But why are we burning rubbish at all? Well, even with everyone’s best efforts, there is waste that can’t be recycled – such as contaminated card, plastics and paper and some other types of plastic.. Today, it’s accepted that the best way to deal with this waste is to get as much benefit from the resource as possible, and that means energy-from-waste plants. While the design and technology used at a particular plant depends on specific factors such as the waste available, the conversion of existing coal-plants is an exciting option for the sector. 

Multiple benefits

Repurposing a disused coal-fired power station saves demolishing it – an expensive, difficult and potentially dangerous process. Instead, a station and its associated infrastructure can be reused, and jobs at the plant and in the wider community can be safeguarded.

A repurposed plant can also generate a lot of electricity. While typical energy-from-waste plants might produce from 10-50MW, a converted coal power station could generate in excess of 200MW. The Uskmouth Power Station project we’re working on with SIMEC Atlantis and RJM will export 220MW of baseload power to the grid for its expected two-decade lifespan. That’s a lot of power – enough for around 220,000 homes.

World-wide potential for Waste to Energy

With generation due to start in late 2020, Uskmouth is the proof of a concept that could soon be rolled out across the UK and beyond. Converted coal power stations like this would generate electricity from 100% waste-derived pellets. The Uskmouth pellet will consist of 50% biogenic material, which is carbon neutral to burn, and CO2 emissions from burning waste are lower than from burning coal.

Pellets for the Uskmouth project, which will be produced in a new, purpose designed plant next to the power station, are the result of a special research and development programme led by SIMEC Atlantis. The pellets can be used in different combustion systems with minimal conversion costs, enabling existing coal-fired power stations to be converted to combust 100% waste-derived fuel. With the conversion of Uskmouth expected to take 18 months following the completion of the front-end engineering and design WSP is currently undertaking, it’s a solution that’s relatively quick to get up and running.

A strong option

Not everywhere in the UK has a coal power station that’s ripe for conversion, and not everywhere needs an energy-from-waste plant on this scale. At WSP we work on smaller facilities too, such as those at Baddesley in Warwickshire and Bridgwater in Somerset. We also support the development and construction of specialist plants that use advanced conversion technologies, such as gasification, to turn waste into synthetic gas, where the mix of waste available makes this technology a viable option.

However, in the right circumstances, the prospect of turning coal power stations coming to the end of their life into giant energy-from-waste plants is a strong option. After all, why wouldn’t you want to extend the operating life of a valuable asset, reduce emissions and dispose of non-recyclable waste responsibly?

Brian Sibthorp: Director, Thermal Power – WSP

Explore more ways in which WSP is engineering your evening Contact Brian

More on this subject

thn-Airport Master Planning

July 2025

Enhancing Airport Master Planning in Latin America

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Decarbonization , Mobility , Resilience , Technology
Thumbnail sized image of a side on view of rows of data centres holding servers

May 2025 | 4:52 minutes

Navigating Data Center Resilience

United States
svg-icon Feature
Resilience , Technology , Energy Transition
thn-Canary Wharf Station

May 2025

Removing Barriers to Develop Integrated Public Transport

Global
svg-icon Feature
Mobility , Places , Technology
Thumbnail sized image of a car driving through a 4 way crossing in Japan

May 2025 | 4 minutes

Making Urban Mobility Convenient

svg-icon Blog
Mobility , Technology
thn-Efficient EHS Assessments

May 2025 | 4 minutes

Efficient EHS Assessments with a Repurposed Tool

Global
Technology
Tunnels-FFFS_article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Exploring Road Tunnel Fixed Fire Fighting Systems

Global
svg-icon Feature
Resilience , Technology
Tunnels-AI-Article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Exploring AI Impact on Tunnel Design

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Resilience , Technology
thnHealthier Products Global Benefits

April 2025 | 5 Minutes

Healthier Products Global Benefits

Global
svg-icon Blog
Society , Resilience
thn-From Data to Decisions AI

April 2025 | 5 Minutes

From Data to Decisions: Harnessing AI for Smarter Impact Assessments

Italy
svg-icon Blog
Technology
AAM-2-Article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Adopting Advanced Air Mobility

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Energy Transition , Mobility , Resilience , Resources , Technology
TOD-2-WP-Thumbnail

March 2025

Transit-Oriented Communities Advance Sustainable Cities

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Decarbonization , Energy Transition , Mobility , Places , Resilience , Society , Technology
Img-Planning-Paradox-Thumb

March 2025

Navigating the Built Environment Planning Paradox

Global
svg-icon Feature
Climate , Decarbonization , Energy Transition , Mobility , Places , Resilience , Resources , Society , Technology

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Linkedin - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Twitter - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Skype - Warning, this link will open your Skype application.

Related themes and tags

  • Society (123)

  • Technology (148)


  • Energy (76)
  • Waste (14)
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • Our story
  • Future Ready
  • Leadership team
  • Global leadership
  • Our offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resources
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • AU job opportunities
  • Early career
  • Experienced professionals
  • Spontaneous applications Page will open in a new tab
  • Why join us?
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and safety
  • Investors
  • Business Conduct Hotline
  • News
  • Corporate governance
  • Ethics and integrity
    ©2025 WSP
    • The WSP logo
    • Privacy notice
    • Anti-spam commitment
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of use
    ©2025 WSP
    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.