Despite the declining market for waste, Twence Waste and Energy can look back on a good 2010. The majority of the company’s net profit, nearly €7.2 million, will go to the shareholders in ‘Regio Twente’ for the implementation of the ‘Agenda of Twente’ programme, a large group of projects in the area of transport, economy, education, culture and well-being. In addition, the municipalities in Twente will receive another €2.5 million.

A significant development in the past year was the conclusion of two major heating projects: AkzoNobel in Hengelo is now using steam from Twence to extract salt by evaporating brine, and Essent is providing heat from Twence’s Waste-to-Energy Plant to over 5,000 households and several hundred companies and institutions in Enschede – including the University of Twente and the stadium of FC Twente, the Dutch national champions.

In 2010, Twence processed more than 920,000 tonnes of waste at its Boeldershoek and Elhorst-Vloedbelt sites. Over 98% of that waste was converted into raw materials, construction materials or energy. Thanks in part to the provision of heat becoming operational, the production of energy increased at Twence last year, with the company generating 537 Gigawatt hours (Gwh) of electricity.

Continuity

It is a positive sign that despite a declining market, Twence has managed to make long-term agreements with customers. That means its Waste-to-Energy Plant will be operating at full capacity in both 2010 and 2011. That is crucial for Twence, since that is the only way it can guarantee the supply of sustainable electricity and heat. The sale of energy forms an increasingly significant share of its turnover: nearly half in 2011. And we are expecting that share to grow even further in 2011.

Looking ahead to 2011 and the coming years, it seems clear that Twence will be facing a difficult market for waste. Nevertheless, the company thinks its results for 2011 will be slightly better than those for 2010.