Metlen has successfully completed the first waste combustion at the Protos Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Cheshire, northwest England — a landmark project it is developing for Encyclis. Known as the ‘First Fire on Waste’, this milestone marks the facility’s entry into the final stages of hot commissioning and represents a major step toward full project completion.
Capacity and Impact
Once fully operational, the Protos ERF will process up to 500,000 tonnes of non-recyclable residual waste annually, generating up to 49.9 MW of electricity on a continuous basis. The power produced is expected to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 90,000 UK households.
How the Energy Recovery Facility Works
The Protos ERF processes residual waste — material left over after recycling — converting it into clean energy. This supports resource recovery and strengthens the circular economy. Beyond electricity generation, the facility also recovers valuable by-products from the combustion process.
The bottom ash generated is treated and converted into inert construction materials, while ferrous and non-ferrous metals are extracted and recycled. This integrated approach minimises landfill dependency and maximises material reuse.
Metlen’s Role in the Project
Metlen serves as the strategic contractor for the project, responsible for design, equipment procurement, and full turnkey delivery on behalf of Encyclis. It is collaborating with German engineering firm Standardkessel Baumgarte GmbH during construction. This is Metlen’s first Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project — a technically complex undertaking that presented significant engineering and logistical challenges throughout its execution.
The successful achievement of the first fire reflects Metlen’s technical expertise and the capabilities of its team, despite time and cost pressures encountered during development — issues the company has previously acknowledged in detail.
M RESET: A Unified Platform for Innovation
According to Metlen, the milestone underscores the potential of M RESET — the unified platform formed by integrating the former M Renewables and M Power Projects divisions. M RESET operates in a demanding European infrastructure and energy construction environment, marked by rising material costs, supply chain constraints, and increasing complexity in delivering large-scale energy projects.
In this context, Metlen stresses the importance of deep technical knowledge and strengthened human capital within M RESET to successfully deliver similar future projects.
A Longstanding UK Presence
Metlen has maintained a strong presence in the UK energy market for over a decade. During this period, it has completed or is currently executing more than 90 projects across various segments of the energy sector — including renewable generation, grid infrastructure, and now, advanced waste-to-energy solutions.