Ribbon cutting marks connection of new £500m West Bromwich waste facility plant to the electricity grid

Representatives from both National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) and enfinium marked the formal completion of the grid connection at the Kelvin Way facility.

The plant is set to transform how unrecyclable waste is processed in the Midlands - once fully operational, it will process up to 395,000 tonnes of residual household and commercial waste each year which would otherwise be sent to landfill or exported.

This will generate 44 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to power over 95,000 homes and businesses across the UK.

The grid connection is a major investment in the region’s energy future. NGED built a new high-voltage bay at Oldbury, installed a remote substation, and laid a cable linking it to the Kelvin Way site allowing up to 49.9MW of electricity to flow from the plant into the grid. The work began in December 2021 and was completed in July 2025, with a total investment of around £5.9 million.

At the heart of the site is a new 25m long compact substation, which plays a vital role in linking the plant to the electricity network.

NGED installed all electrical equipment within the substation, including circuit breakers, disconnectors, battery systems, and control panels, and will maintain the busbars connecting the substation to the wider site.

Commissioning is now underway, and the plant will be importing power to support final set up and testing, until it begins exporting to the grid later in the year.

Chris Wilson, NGED’s new connections project manager in the West Midlands, said: “This is the first energy from waste scheme of its scale in the local area, and it’s been delivered through close collaboration and a shared commitment to progress. 

"The substation may be small, but it’s enabling a major shift - turning unrecyclable waste into reliable energy for thousands of homes and businesses.” 

Simon Forshaw, vice president of Engineering and Construction at enfinium, said: “We are delighted our Kelvin site is now fully energised and connected to the grid. 

"This allows us to now move into the next stage of construction and begin planning for full operations in 2026 when enfinium Kelvin will provide homegrown reliable energy to the UK, as well as exciting local heat network and private wire opportunities. 

"Reaching this milestone reflects the commitment and hard work of both the enfinium and NGED workforces.”