Information for Drakelow Park Renewable Energy Centre, Site of the Former Drakelow C Power Station, Walton Road, Drakelow, Burton upon Trent
Status: ExistingPlanning Region: East Midlands
Planning Sub-Region: Derbyshire
Operator: Vital Energi
Capacity: 169,000
Campaign Group(s): Contact coordinator@ukwin.org.uk to be put in touch with those opposing this development.
Notes: In March 2025 it was reported that the facility was fully operational [Source]. Derbyshire County Council voted to approve the planning application for the RDF-based gasification plant in October 2015 (ref. CW9/0615/48). Awarded a CfD by BEIS in September 2017 [Source]. An Environmental Permit was issued in April 2020 (ref EPR/GP3031JB/A001). In February 2020 it was reported that Vital Energi had taken over the project in conjunction with technical advisor's Royal Haskoning who are hoping to complete by 2023 and that: "Beauparc Group has been contracted to supply Vital Energi with 169,000 tonnes of refuse derived fuel over the long-term supply contract" [Source]. In November 2023 it was reported by EWB that the "project will not be fully operational this year as was planned" but that a Vital spokesperson had stated said that "Commissioning work at the Drakelow Energy Facility is continuing, albeit that it is taking longer than had been anticipated. There are, however, no major issues as has been suggested". The Companies House records for Vital Energi (Drakelow) Limited note an outstanding (as of 3 June 2024) charge created in January 2020 and delivered in February 2020 which refers to "Aviva Investors Infrastructure Income No.4B Limited on Behalf of Aviva Investors Infrastructure Income Limited Partnership and Aviva Investors Multi Asset Alternative Income Fund, Sicav-Raif Scsp (Acting on Behalf of Sub-Compartments Iv and V)" and similarly named related entities [Source]. According to the Vital Energi Annual Performance Report for year ended 30th June 2025: "We expanded our energy-from-waste (EfW) assets by acquiring Aviva's stake in our existing Drakelow EfW plant and acquiring the Port Clarence EfW plant" [Source]. (Entry updated 2026-02-25)
Waste management for England 2024: Pre-operational (Environment Agency)
Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
Permit: GP3031JB
| Operator Name | Site Name | Site Address | Former Planning Region | Former Planning Sub-Region | Type | Permitted Capacity (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energi (Drakelow) Limited | Drakelow Energy Generation Facility | Drakelow Energy Generation Facility,,Walton Road,,Burton upon Trent,, DE15 9UA | East Midlands | Derbyshire | Municipal and/or Industrial & Commercial | 169,000 |
Waste management for England 2023 & 2024: Waste received
2023: Uses data from 2023 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
2024: Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
Permit: GP3031JB
Form: Solid
EWC Waste Desc: combustible waste (refuse derived fuel)
Waste Code: 19 12 10
Fate: Incineration
R and D code: R01
SOC Category: 10 - Mixed ordinary wastes
SOC Sub Category: Sorting residues
| Recorded Origin | Origin WPA | Origin Region | Tonnes Received (2023) | Tonnes Received (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | Lincolnshire | East Midlands | 27,724 | 83,322 (+201%) |
| West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire | Yorks & Humber | 763 |
Waste management for England 2023 & 2024: Waste removed
2023: Uses data from 2023 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 1 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
2024: Uses data from 2024 Waste Data Interrogator - Version 2 released by the Environment Agency under the Environment Agency Conditional Licence. © Environment Agency copyright
Permit: GP3031JB
| EWC Sub Chapter | EWC Waste Desc | Waste Code | Recorded Destination | Destination WPA | Destination Region | Fate | R and D code | SOC Category | SOC Sub Category | Tonnes Removed (2023) | Tonnes Removed (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 1 01 | Cambridge | Cambridgeshire | East of England | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 5,990.44 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 3,100.46 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | West Midlands | West Midlands (WPA Not codeable) | West Midlands | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 2,680.42 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | solid wastes from gas treatment | 19 01 07* | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 731.79 | 4,148.10 (+467%) |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | bottom ash and slag containing dangerous substances | 19 01 11* | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 1,181.60 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | solid wastes from gas treatment | 19 01 07* | Erewash | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 858.04 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Newcastle-under-Lyme | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 612.46 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | bottom ash and slag containing dangerous substances | 19 01 11* | Northamptonshire | Northamptonshire | East Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 594.90 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | bottom ash and slag containing dangerous substances | 19 01 11* | Peterborough | Peterborough | East of England | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 222.88 | 403.61 (+81%) |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | ferrous metal | 16 01 17 | Warrington | Warrington | North West | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Ferrous metal waste and scrap | 63.24 | 338.02 (+435%) |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | ferrous metal | 16 01 17 | South Yorkshire | South Yorkshire (WPA not codeable) | Yorks & Humber | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Ferrous metal waste and scrap | 263.60 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | boiler dust containing dangerous substances | 19 01 15* | Peterborough | Peterborough | East of England | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 187.48 | 251.72 (+34%) |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | boiler dust containing dangerous substances | 19 01 15* | Northamptonshire | Northamptonshire | East Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 231.16 | |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | non-ferrous metal | 16 01 18 | South Yorkshire | South Yorkshire (WPA not codeable) | Yorks & Humber | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Non-ferrous metal waste and scrap | 226.46 | |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | non-ferrous metal | 16 01 18 | Warrington | Warrington | North West | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Non-ferrous metal waste and scrap | 69.29 | 214.84 (+210%) |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | bottom ash and slag other than those mentioned in 19 01 11 | 19 1 12 | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Recovery | R13 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 181.50 | |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | ferrous metal | 16 01 17 | Doncaster | Doncaster | Yorks & Humber | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Ferrous metal waste and scrap | 170.66 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Essex | Essex | East of England | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 3,498.18 | 115.86 (-97%) |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Hampshire | Hampshire | South East | Recovery | R13 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 102.60 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | solid wastes from gas treatment | 19 01 07* | Northamptonshire | Northamptonshire | East Midlands | Treatment | D09 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 102.48 | |
| End-of-life vehicles from different means of transport (including off-road machinery) and wastes from dismantling of end-of-life vehicles and vehicle maintenance (except 13 - 14 - 16 06 and 16 08) | non-ferrous metal | 16 01 18 | Doncaster | Doncaster | Yorks & Humber | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Non-ferrous metal waste and scrap | 96.19 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 1 01 | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire | East of England | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 76.12 | |
| Other construction and demolition wastes | mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03 | 17 9 04 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Construction and demolition wastes | 48.57 | |
| Insulation materials and asbestos-containing construction materials | insulation materials other than those mentioned in 17 06 01 and 17 06 03 | 17 06 04 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Incineration | D10 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Construction and demolition wastes | 37.32 | |
| Wood - glass and plastic | wood | 17 2 01 | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Recovery | R03 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Wood wastes | 10.60 | |
| Metals (including their alloys) | mixed metals | 17 04 07 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Mixed metal wastes | 5.64 | |
| Separately collected fractions (except 15 01) | metals | 20 01 40 | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Recovery | R04 | 06 - Metallic wastes | Mixed metal wastes | 5.26 | |
| Other municipal wastes | mixed municipal waste | 20 03 01 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 10 - Mixed ordinary wastes | Household and similar wastes | 2.64 | 4.68 (+77%) |
| Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste) | mixed packaging | 15 01 06 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 10 - Mixed ordinary wastes | Mixed and undifferentiated materials | 2.64 | 1.50 (-43%) |
| Manufacture - formulation - supply and use of acids | hydrochloric acid | 06 01 02* | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R06 | 01 - Chemical compound wastes | Acid, alkalies or salts | 0.89 | |
| Absorbents - filter materials - wiping cloths and protective clothing | absorbents, filter materials (including oil filters not otherwise specified), wiping cloths, protective clothing contaminated by dangerous substances | 15 02 02* | Merseyside | Merseyside (WPA not codeable) | North West | Incineration | R01 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Textile wastes | 0.24 | |
| Absorbents - filter materials - wiping cloths and protective clothing | absorbents, filter materials (including oil filters not otherwise specified), wiping cloths, protective clothing contaminated by dangerous substances | 15 02 02* | Sefton | Sefton | North West | Incineration | R01 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Textile wastes | 0.24 | |
| Gases in pressure containers and discarded chemicals | gases in pressure containers (including halons) containing dangerous substances | 16 05 04* | Birmingham | Birmingham City | West Midlands | Recovery | R04 | 02 - Chemical preparation wastes | Off-specification chemical wastes | 0.04 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Cambridge | Cambridgeshire | East of England | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 951.70 | |
| Incineration or pyrolysis of waste | solid wastes from gas treatment | 19 01 07* | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Landfill | D05 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 769.75 | |
| Other construction and demolition wastes | mixed construction and demolition wastes other than those mentioned in 17 09 01, 17 09 02 and 17 09 03 | 17 09 04 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Construction and demolition wastes | 134.92 | |
| Wood - glass and plastic | wood | 17 02 01 | Derbyshire | Derbyshire | East Midlands | Recovery | R03 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Wood wastes | 64.80 | |
| Concrete - bricks - tiles and ceramics | mixtures of concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics other than those mentioned in 17 01 06 | 17 01 07 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Construction and demolition wastes | 62.95 | |
| Power stations and other combustion plants (except 19) | bottom ash, slag and boiler dust (excluding boiler dust mentioned in 10 01 04) | 10 01 01 | Dartford | Kent | South East | Other Fate | D02 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Combustion wastes | 28.78 | |
| Gypsum-based construction material | gypsum-based construction materials other than those mentioned in 17 08 01 | 17 08 02 | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 12 - Mineral wastes | Construction and demolition wastes | 1.58 | |
| Absorbents - filter materials - wiping cloths and protective clothing | absorbents, filter materials (including oil filters not otherwise specified), wiping cloths, protective clothing contaminated by dangerous substances | 15 02 02* | Staffordshire | Staffordshire | West Midlands | Recovery | R05 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Textile wastes | 0.26 | |
| Absorbents - filter materials - wiping cloths and protective clothing | absorbents, filter materials (including oil filters not otherwise specified), wiping cloths, protective clothing contaminated by dangerous substances | 15 02 02* | Merseyside | Merseyside (WPA not codeable) | North West | Recovery | R05 | 07 - Non-metallic wastes | Textile wastes | 0.12 |
APR Summary 2025
Details taken or derived from the Annual Performance Report submitted by the operator
Permit: GP3031JB
| Entry | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Size TPA | 169.00 | Issue Date: |
| Plant Size MWe | 15.00 | |
| Power Generated Year Total | 99,111.00 | |
| Power Generated kWh per tonne | 757.57 | |
| Power Exported Year Total | 85,331.00 | |
| Power Exported kWh per tonne | 652.24 | |
| Power Imported Year Total | 1,184.00 | |
| Power Imported kWh per tonne | 9.05 | |
| Parasitic Load Year Total | 0.15 | |
| Thermal Energy Exported Year Total | 0.00 | |
| Total Waste Received Year Total | 130,828.00 | |
| Total Waste Combusted Year Total | 130,828.00 | Refuse Derived Fuel (incl. SRF) - C&I (100.00%) |
| NCV Year Total | 12.00 | |
| Permit Breaches Year Total | 5.00 |
Entry on WikiWaste:
https://wikiwaste.org.uk/index.php/Drakelow_Renewable_Energy_CentreAnnual Performance Report files:
9-AnnualPerformanceReport-2025.xlsmPermit files:
9-Permit-2020.pdfPermit Decision files:
9-PermitDecision-2020.pdfEnvironment Agency Compliance Assessment Reports
Click here to see the incinerator compliance documents for existing English incineratorsStandard notice:
UKWIN (and therefore the UKWIN map) focuses on Municipal Waste Incinerators, whereas our colleagues at Biofuelwatch focus on biomass projects. If you are interested in biomass incinerators (including waste wood plants) over 20MW then please see the Biofuelwatch map of UK Biomass Power Stations. Those concerned about biomass plants, including waste wood plants, should email Biofuelwatch at biofuelwatch[at]gmail.com.Please be aware: There is always room for improvement, so please send updates to coordinator@ukwin.org.uk. Existing Incinerator means a facility that is operational or under construction/commissioning. A Potential Incinerator is a facility where there is a proposal for an incinerator (e.g. planning application or planning consent) or other reason to believe an incinerator might be built/proposed in the future. A Prevented Incinerator is something which used to be a proposal or expected incinerator which we do not believe is currently being progressed (e.g. because the project was cancelled, planning permission refused, or years have gone by since the permission was granted without any progress) - in some cases a facility marked as prevented is being progressed without us being aware or is subsequently revived. Capacity is usually the permitted or maximum advertised capacity of the facility.