Information for Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC), Next to the Polmadie Recycling Centre, 425 Polmadie Road
Status: ExistingPlanning Region: Scotland
Planning Sub-Region: Glasgow
Operator: Viridor / KKR and RSM Group AS
Capacity: 154,000
Campaign Group(s): Communities Against Toxics Scotland (CATsScotland), Friends of the Earth Scotland, Glasgow Alternatives to Incineration and Green Alternatives to Incineration in Scotland (GAINS)
Notes: Site officially opened in August 2019 [Source]. Energos Gasification-type incinerator granted planning permission in January 2013 [Source]. Construction work began in November 2013, but in May 2016 it was reported that construction had been delayed due to "technical issues with the plant" [Source]. Viridor awarded contract by Glasgow City Council in December 2011 [Source, Source]. In November 2016 Viridor "sacked Interserve from the Glasgow job" and in February 2017 it was announced that Babcock would complete the job [Source, Source]. In February 2018 Viridor reported that the gasification process was in "final commissioning" [Source]. Permit reference PPC/A/1110002. See public register for permit documents. (Entry updated 2020-03-25)
APR Summary 2025
Details taken or derived from the Annual Performance Report submitted by the operator
Permit: PPC-A-1110002
| Entry | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Size TPA | 154,000.00 | Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre |
| Plant Size MWth | 397,800.00 | |
| Plant Size MWe | 104,949.00 | |
| Power Generated Year Total | 73,566.43 | |
| Power Generated kWh per tonne | 497.41 | |
| Power Exported Year Total | 54,109.07 | |
| Power Exported kWh per tonne | 365.85 | |
| Power Imported Year Total | 523.09 | |
| Power Imported kWh per tonne | 3.54 | |
| Parasitic Load Year Total | 0.27 | |
| Thermal Energy Exported Year Total | 0.00 | |
| Total Waste Received Year Total | 185,982.14 | |
| Total Waste Combusted Year Total | 147,898.10 | Household / Local Authority (98.39%) |
| Permit Breaches Year Total | 5.00 | |
| Annual CO2 Mass | 125,294.22 | CO2 mass emissions have been calculated by the calibrated CEMS intrument management system to EN 14181 and EN 16911-2. |
| Annual CO2 Mass Per Tonne | 0.85 | |
| Annual CO2 Mass Per Mwh | 2.32 | |
| Annual N2O Mass | 1.40 | N2O mass emissions have been calculated by the calibrated CEMS intrument management system to EN 14181 and EN 16911-2.. |
| Total CO2 N2O | 125,665.22 | |
| Biogenic CO2 Percentage | 0.52 | C14 biogenic carbon percentages are measured directly via samplers installed in the stack. The percentage above represents an average of all figures for the year. Note that the timescale for analysis and reporting of these samples is >3months for sample submission to receipt of results and so the umber above does not include Q3 2025. |
Entry on WikiWaste:
https://wikiwaste.org.uk/index.php/Glasgow_Renewable_Energy_and_Recycling_Centre_(ACT)Annual Performance Report files:
101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2020.pdf101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2021.xlsx
101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2022.pdf
101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2023.pdf
101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2024.xlsm
101-AnnualPerformanceReport-2025.xlsm
Incinerator Efficiency Report files:
101-IncineratorEfficiencyReport-2020.pdfPollution Inventory Return files:
101-PollutionInventoryReturn-2025-Explanation.pdf101-PollutionInventoryReturn-2025-v0.xlsx
Environment 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.