The Netherlands-headed DIF Capital Partners (formerly Dutch Infrastructure Fund) through DIF Infrastructure V (DIF), has recently announced that it has closed the acquisition of an additional 10 percent stake in the Dublin Waste to Energy PPP project, the Poolbeg Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plant, an operational waste-to-energy (WtE) facility supported by a 45-year contract with Dublin City Council.
Together with its partner MEAG, DIF acquired the stake from the Green Investment Group (GIG). Following this transaction, DIF and MEAG together now hold a 50 percent stake of the project, with DIF holding the majority thereof.
The DIF Infrastructure V targets equity investments in public-private partnerships (PPP/PFI/P3), concessions, regulated assets, and renewable energy projects with long-term contracted or regulated income streams that generate stable and predictable cash flows.
Located in Poolbeg, Dublin Port, the Poolbeg Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility processes 600 000 tonnes of residual waste annually and generates electricity which is exported to Ireland’s national grid benefitting from the Irish renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT).
Built by Covanta, which is also its long term operator via its special purpose vehicle Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd, the Poolbeg EfW facility has been designed to provide highly efficient incineration and is classified as energy recovery in line with EU policy on waste.
The facility is part of a wider Dublin regional waste management plan, which is aimed at reducing waste, maximizing recycling, and generating energy from waste. The plant is also ready to act as the baseload for the Dublin District Heating system, which will provide enough heat for over 50 000 homes and is expected to come on stream in 2022/2023.
