Ashurst advises Encyclis on Walsall Energy-from-Waste Facility

Global law firm Ashurst has advised Encyclis on the project financing of the Walsall Energy-from-Waste (‘EfW’) Facility in the West Midlands, England, which has reached financial close and will commence construction early in the New Year.

Encyclis will build, own and operate the start-of-the-art facility which will utilise the latest combustion technology to turn up to 436,000 tonnes of the region’s non-recyclable residual waste every year into 49 megawatts of baseload electricity – enough to power around 90,000 homes.

The project has been supported by West Midlands Combined Authority, which provided an initial loan facility for enabling groundworks at the site ahead of financial close. The facility will provide much-needed social infrastructure in the West Midlands for the sustainable treatment of waste whilst supporting the region’s journey on the road to net-zero.

The project will see the creation of over 300 jobs during the construction period and around 60 local, high-skilled jobs once operational, and provide wider supply chain opportunities to support the region’s drive to be a hub of green innovation.

The Ashurst team was led by partners Cameron Smith and Patrick Boyle, supported by senior consultant Michael Smith, senior associate Grahame Fischer and associates Millie Gray, Emma Jamieson, Phoebe Makin, William Morgan and Bryony Singleton. Real estate counsel David Razzell and Charlie Reid and corporate associates Annie Marriner, Roshni Mehra and Rebecca Karpin also advised.

Commenting, partner Cameron Smith said: "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work on this latest deal with Encyclis and their shareholders, EQT. The project, which takes an innovative approach to feedstock supply, took a huge amount of effort by all parties and reinforces the firm’s pre-eminent position in the waste sector.”