Westfield Energy Recovery Facility near Ballingry opens

The Westfield Energy Recovery Facility (WERF), located near Ballingry, has officially begun commercial operations, marking a significant step forward in Scotland’s green transition.

Developed by Brockwell Energy Services Limited (BESL), the £220 million facility converts non-recyclable waste into electricity and heat, supporting national net zero ambitions while diverting waste from landfill.

Sean McManus, project manager at Brockwell Energy, said: "During peak construction, WERF employed over 400 workers, with 40 retained for long-term operations.

"Local supply chain partnerships have reinvested in the region, driving broader economic impact.

"With the landfill ban approaching, alternative solutions are essential.

"Fife Council, through its partnership with CIRECO, already has a deal to send 160,000 tonnes of waste to Westfield."

WERF has the capacity to process around 240,000 tonnes of residual, commercial, and industrial waste each year.

In addition to waste processing, the facility generates up to 24MW of baseload electricity—enough to power 70,000 homes.

The site is already attracting interest from prospective businesses and industrial operators seeking affordable renewable energy.

The project forms part of the Westfield Green Energy Park, and Brockwell is exploring broader clean-tech opportunities at the site, including a 30MW solar array, floating solar options offshore and on reservoirs, and a planned 350MWh battery storage system.

Pamela Stevenson, service manager for economic development at Fife Council, said: "Westfield invites businesses to co-locate within a sustainable energy cluster.

"From green manufacturing to data centres seeking low-cost renewable power, this project advances Fife’s energy transition.

"Westfield is not only generating clean electricity but may become a hub for industrial decarbonisation through private wire heat and power networks, supporting jobs, investment, and sustainability."

Planning permission for the facility was granted in 2019, with construction beginning in February 2022.

The site itself has a long industrial history, having previously operated as an opencast coal mine until production ceased in 1998.

Scottish Coal sold the land to Hargreaves in 2013 before it was earmarked for redevelopment into a clean energy facility.

Brockwell Energy originated and managed the project through to launch, though it sold its equity in Westfield in 2022.