DB3 Energy & Waste

Energy & Waste Project Experience

About DB3 Founded in 1883, DB3 Group is an award-winning, dynamic practice consisting of DB3 Architecture & Design, DB3 Building Services Engineering, DB3 Net Zero and DB3 Professional Services.

DB3 Group has seven studios across the UK in Leeds, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff and Aberystwyth, so we are never too far away from your project.

Renowned for our quality design and technical delivery, we have long standing relationships with some of the biggest global brands across private and public market sectors.

From architectural vision to the completed build, we provide multi-disciplinary expertise aimed at meeting the diverse needs of our client base. We embrace the latest technology, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), to assist in our

process and operations for design, visualisation, design team co-ordination and more.

We maintain a focus on delivering the project on time, with exceptional quality and within cost, ensuring long term value is designed into facilities to ensure they are easy and safe to operate, sustainable, minimise energy use and are cost effective to maintain.

Our dedicated team of experienced Architects, Project Managers, Building Services Engineers, Principal Designers and Surveyors provide a quality service regardless of project value, size or complexity, to deliver the best for our clients.

Working collaboratively, we aspire to make this an enjoyable process and build relationships which result in us returning to work for the same clients on future projects.

Glasgow

EXPERTISE Architecture Building Services Engineering Building Physics Engineering Passivhaus Design Principal Designer NEC Supervisor Technical Advisor

Leeds Manchester

Aberystwyth

Cardiff

Birmingham

London

About DB3

SECTORS Commercial Conservation & Heritage Data Centres Education Energy Industrial & Manufacturing Retail Residential Science & Labs Sports & Leisure Waste

DB3 Energy & Waste The energy and waste sectors are a major contributor to the UK’s Circular Economy and play a pivotal role in de-carbonising the UK and achieving and maintaining net zero targets.

By working to support UK infrastructure with renewable energy, these sectors plays a significant role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable growth and development. Enabling global, industry leading facilities to divert waste from landfill, improve recycling capabilities and maximise opportunities for energy creation, heat and energy recovery is at the centre of the sectors’ purpose.

Delivering both energy and waste schemes effectively for clients requires specific demonstrable knowledge and expertise gained through experience of delivering similar relevant facilities. As such DB3’s team has more than 30 years of combined experience on over 40 energy and waste facilities throughout the UK. Our team has worked on a diverse range of relative schemes.

Large scale traditional moving grate incinerators for municipal solid waste

New build biomass power plants using both pellets from sustainably managed forests as renewable energy and waste wood chip

Power station conversion from coal fired to sustainably managed biomass

Power station conversion from coal fired to waste derived pellet

Treatment of municipal solid waste with enzymes incorporating anaerobic digestion

Clinical waste facilities

Modular energy from waste technology

Peaking plants

Carbon capture, usage and storage

Port side facilities for fuel unloading, storage and onwards transfer by road and rail

Power connections to Morocco and France

Solar and wind farms

DB3 Energy & Waste

ACCIONA

North London Energy Recovery Facility Location: Edmonton, London Value: £683m

The scheme forms part of a £1.2bn investment known as the North London Heat and Power Project, which will serve seven North London boroughs. With the concept design led by international architecture practice Grimshaw, DB3 are leading the delivery of the facility to completion.

The facility will divert up to 700,000 tonnes of waste from landfill every year. It will be treated in order to generate electricity for up to 127,000 homes as well as generate heating and hot water for one of the UK’s largest district heat networks that will support 50,000 homes and businesses.

The new ERF will play a major part in North London Waste Authority’s plan to help North London reach Net Zero.

Construction commenced in 2022 with the intention for the ERF to be operational by 2026.

DB3 Energy & Waste

DB3 have been appointed by Acciona to provide architectural design and landscape architecture for a new £683m world class Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) for North London Waste Authority (NLWA). DB3, supported by Gillespies, are undertaking RIBA Stages 2-6 at the Edmonton EcoPark site, which will be the UK’s greenest ERF.

MCFADDEN BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING LIMITED

Scunthorpe Energy Recovery Centre DB3 have been procured by McFadden Building and Civil Engineering Limited to deliver the design for a new state-of-the-art 49.9MW Energy Recovery Centre in North Lincolnshire. The scheme, which also includes a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), an Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) facility and options for on-site hydrogen production, will process up to 500,000 tonnes of waste each year and will generate enough sustainable electricity for over 60,000 homes.

The proposal allows for waste to be delivered to the site by either road or rail containers. Waste will be pre-sorted in the MRF where automated technologies will remove plastics, papers and

cardboard as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals all of which will be sent onwards for recycling. Once all the recyclables have been extracted the remaining waste will be treated with the heat generated from the combustion process used to create steam to power a turbine and excess steam being exported to local industries or businesses via a heat network.

The IBA, which is a non-hazardous ash from the end of the process, contains recyclable materials and will be treated in the IBA facility prior to being recycled into aggregate for the construction industry.

DB3 Energy & Waste

Location: Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire

CWM ENVIRONMENTAL

Nantycaws Resource Recycling Facility (RRF) Location: Nantycaws, Camarthenshire Value: £4m

The new Nantycaws RRF is designed to process up to 80,000 tons of recyclable materials across South West Wales. With around 20,000 tonnes coming from co–mingled DMR (Dry Mixed Recycling) from households across Carmarthenshire, the rest will be from the commercial sector and collected as separated streams at the curbside.

Unlike the old MRF, the RRF is designed to handle both a comingled stream from households and segregated streams from businesses to provide a valuable service to the local community after the introduction of Workplace Recycling Laws in April 2024. The RRF is designed to segregate polymers and fiber material if required, which will enhance the service even further.

The facility will feature cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, eddy current separators, ballistic operators, Near-Infrared (NIR) detection, and artificial intelligence (AI) for data collection and quality monitoring. These innovations will ensure

efficient sorting and higher quality recycled materials.

The facility is designed to significantly increase recycling efficiency. By utilising advanced sorting technologies and promoting a circular economy, the RRF aims to make Carmarthenshire a leader in sustainable resource management in Wales.

In addition to the technological upgrades, the Nantycaws RRF features a completely redesigned road layout and an automated weighbridge. These infrastructure improvements are designed to streamline the process of receiving and sorting materials, reducing waiting times and increasing overall efficiency. The new road access makes it easier for collection vehicles to deliver recyclables, ensuring that materials are processed quickly and effectively.

One of the new facility’s most exciting aspects is its potential to create skilled jobs in the region. These jobs will not only contribute to the economic wellbeing of the region but will also offer career opportunities in the growing field of environmental management.

Additionally, the facility will welcome local schools and businesses, offering them a firsthand look at the cutting-edge technologies and processes at work in the facility.

DB3 Energy & Waste

In 2021, CWM Environmental faced a significant challenge when a devastating fire engulfed their Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Nantycaws.

The fire, caused by a discarded lithium-ion battery, completely destroyed the facility. However, from this unfortunate event emerged an opportunity to rebuild and innovate. Our team are delivering Architectural and M&E Services to develop the new Nantycaws Resource Recycling Facility (RRF), a state of the art complex designed to handle all of Carmarthenshire’s household recycling. This new facility not only replaces the old MRF but also represents a significant upgrade, both in terms of technology and capacity.

XLINKS

Morocco-UK Power Project Location: Devon Value: £24bn The Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project is a new electricity generation facility. The proposal is based on renewable energy creation, powered by solar and wind energy combined with a battery storage facility. Located in Morocco’s renewable energy rich region of Guelmim Oued Noun, the facility will be connected exclusively to Great Britain via 4,000km (2485 miles) HVDC sub-sea cables.

This first of a kind project will generate 11.5GW of zero carbon electricity to deliver 3.6GW of reliable energy for an average of 19+ hours a day. This is enough to provide low cost, clean power to the equivalent of over 7 million British homes and once complete, the project will be capable of supplying 8 percent of Great Britain’s electricity needs.

Alongside the consistent output from its solar panels and wind turbines, an onsite 22.5GWh/5GW battery facility will provide sufficient storage to reliably deliver a near constant source of clean energy for Britain, designed to complement the renewable energy already generated across the UK. Agreement has been reached with National Grid for two 1.8GW voltage source convertor stations for connections in Devon.

Throughout the design development, we have been considerate of the location, landscape and constraints of the Devon countryside.

The requirements blend the proposals for the architectural landscape and the control access building, integrating the facility into the landscape.

We will be supporting XLinks and the wider design team throughout the project duration, until completion in 2030.

DB3 Energy & Waste

DB3 are providing Architectural and Principal Designer Services to XLinks, for Option B, a new 3.6GW converter station located next to the Alverdiscott national substation in Devon. This project follows works concluded to Stage 3 for an Option A of this project at a different site close by, in Gammaton Moor.

SUEZ

Tees Valley Energy Recovery Centre Location: Redcar and Cleveland Value: £300m DB3 are supporting Suez’s bid for a new ERC to treat waste from Durham County Council, Newcastle City Council, Middlesbrough and the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. The annual capacity is expected to be 450,000 tonnes which will generate electricity for more than 32,000 homes.

A 25-acre brownfield site in Redcar and Cleveland has been identified for the Tees Valley facility. The local authorities hope for the facility to be up and running by 1 April 2026, when it would create 40 permanent positions.

DB3 has provided designs for the project, which features an IBA facility and incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

This site is destined to become the landmark building in this area.

DB3 Energy & Waste

The seven councils across the North East joined forces in plans for a 40-year Energy from Waste (EfW) project potentially worth £2.1 billion.

NATIONAL GAS

Emergency Equipment Store & Admin Building Location: Ambergate, Derbyshire

The project included the construction of a new Emergency Equipment and Materials Store, designed to improve operational capabilities. This facility is fully equipped with an internal crane and features an external wilding area.

The existing 1970s admin building has been completely transformed. The outdated twostorey concrete framed structure now features a striking new exterior, a modern reception area, and upgraded office spaces. The refurbishment also includes improved meeting rooms, breakout spaces, and boardroom, creating a more functional and welcoming workspace.

National Gas’ Ambergate site is a key operational hub, playing a vital role in providing critical maintenance services that ensure the reliability and security of the national energy network.

This significant investment reflects a broader commitment to supporting the government’s net zero ambitions and the transition toward a hydrogen powered future.

As part of this vision, the Ambergate site is actively contributing to the development of a core hydrogen network across the UK. This initiative is essential for achieving net zero goals while also strengthening energy security and fostering green job opportunities.

DB3 Energy & Waste

Our architecture and building services teams have delivered significant upgrades at National Gas Ambergate, enhancing both operational efficiency and sustainability.

WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION

New Build Depots Location: UK-wide

DB3 have acted as Architect for a variety of projects, including new build and conversion schemes. DB3 delivered a programme of rapid conversion works following Western Power Distributions acquisition of Central Networks Ltd (CN) from EON. A programme of new depots followed, including upgrading existing sites and establishing new sites in 16 locations. The units varied in size to accommodate 20 to 106 workstations and include office space, meeting rooms, a conference room, mess, locker and shower rooms, plus a range of workshops, smaller specialist stores and a larger general storage area.

At Northampton we tackled a challenging site with tight external space. Our solution included doubling the size of the office within the 48,000ft² facilities by forming the specialist stores out of

load-bearing blockwork and using a beam and block floor with topping to assist with acoustic performance.

The depots were in varying states when purchased. Derby was a recently completed unit (although with only 25% of the required first floor office space); Northampton had to be stripped back to the frame and re-roofed and re-clad, with all new windows and doors.

We did extensive work with the supply chain prior to the contract awards to ensure consistency of look and feel across the portfolio. Having completed the initial phase of six depots, further sites have been delivered on an ongoing basis.

The depot scheme at Spilsby achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating of 100.5%, the highest ever achieved.

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL

Crowndale HWRC Location: Tavistock, Devon

The new facility, situated on a regenerated brownfield site, is designed to improve efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability. A key feature of this development is the reuse centre, which plays a crucial role in diverting items from landfill by

enabling their repair, repurposing, or resale. This initiative not only reduces waste but also supports the circular economy, encouraging a more sustainable approach to resource management.

By integrating modern design with sustainable infrastructure, such a PV panels and rain water harvesting, the project aims to provide a long term solution for waste management while fostering environmental responsibility within the local community.

DB3 Energy & Waste

We are acting as the Architect and M&E provider for a new reuse centre, which forms part of a state of the art Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Tavistock. The previous HWRC on Crowndale Road had become outdated, highly congested, and no longer met the growing demands of the community.

TORFAEN COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

New Inn Waste Transfer Station Location: Torfaen Value: £4m+ DB3 were procured by Kier Construction to provide the full multi-disciplinary lead for a new Waste Transfer Station in the New Inn area of South Wales. The scheme included a new £4m facility that will allow for the bulking and baling on site of various waste streams prior to recycling. The waste streams will be collected from kerbside and delivered using kerb-sort vehicles and will include glass, plastics, green waste, food waste, paper & cardboard, and Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Planning and permitting

Architecture

Civil and structural engineering

Principal Designer

DB3 inherited WRAP’s concept layout and partnered with local authorities and WRAP to find a solution. The team used their knowledge to enhance the layout and present two options for the client. Hard landscaping was minimised wherever possible to maximise areas of permeable paving. The scheme is at RIBA Stage 2.

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Lead Designer

Building services engineering

The project posed challenges such as a limited site, contamination, and Sustainable Drainage and SAB compliance. The scheme added complexity due to the need to relocate existing technologies, such as waste sorting equipment and weighbridges.

DB3’s scope included the following disciplines:

Vulture 2 25 (with Mercedes Econic 2628L 6x4 chas is)

105311

3 0 8 .6 5

C

OVERBAND EDDY CURRENT

1550

1205

329600 SORT LINE P L IC T S A

S O IN E L T R WA S E T

S T E L

HOPPER ON TOP

PLASTIC TRANSFER

6120.2408

S H E D R R E

I L A

O D H IV E RR P E T

DISCHARGE

Hopper

PLASTIC STORE STEEL

ALI

Cans / Plastics

Cans / Plastics

9000

9000

9000

Card

9000

Card

9000

Paper

9000

8000

9000

7000

Hopper Plastic Film

WEEE

9000

4000

5000 Tetra

34820

9000

17000

7000

7000

Plastic Film

7000

Cardboard

8000

9000

Quarantine Bay (More than 50% of largest pile)

Offices

7000

7000

7000

Aluminium

Plastics

9000

9000

9000

9000 Steel

9000 Food Waste Glass

329550 P01 Rev

28.04.22 I Date

10 Tel: 0113 CLIENT

Site Plan Option A 1 : 200

Torfaen Coun PROJECT

New Inn Wast TITLE

Site Plan Opt CREATION DATE 21/04/22

TONY GEE

Wind Farm Control Buildings DB3 became involved with winds farms across Scotland and more recently in Wales and Northern Ireland. We were appointed by Tony Gee & Partners to undertake the Section Six for Scotland and Part L for Wales compliance checks.

This involved us completing thermal modelling to review the buildings’ compliance with the appropriate regulations. As the buildings take 100% of their energy from the wind turbines they are considered carbon neutral.

Pearie Wind Farm, Scotland

Brechfa Wind Farm, Wales

Airies Wind Farm & Control Building, Scotland

Harburnhead Control Building, Scotland

Sorbie Wind Farm & Control Building, Scotland

Afton Contro, Building & metering Building, Scotland

Slievenahanaghan, Northern Ireland

DB3 Building Services Engineering were also appointed to complete the full design of the ventilation, heating, cooling and domestic water services for each of the buildings. Part of this included providing specification and details of rainwater harvesting with suitable filtration to enable water to be used for semi potable uses such as showering, hand washing and flushing toilets. This is achieved by providing particle filtration down to 35 microns followed by UV sterilisation. Bottled water was recommended for drinking purposes due to the location and sporadic use of the buildings.

DB3 Energy & Waste

Location: Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland

DB3 Net Zero

Our in-house expertise allows us to provide the back up to the project architect to develop the buildings with a sustainable design approach.

Passive principles first – analysing layout, fabric and form to reduce or remove mechanical cooling, heating, ventilation and lighting demand

For existing buildings we can provide a ‘health check’ report highlighting the performance of the building services and fabric against published benchmarks.

Our advice and analysis includes:

Advice on energy use

Energy Use Assessments

Conservation and renewables

Lifecycle costs

Maintenance planning

Orientation of the building

Maximising daylight within the design

Maximising natural ventilation within the design

Renewable and sustainable technology implementation

Site layout and the impact of the surrounding environment

Dynamic Simulation Models (DSM) to Level 5 standard (complex buildings)

Suitability and payback for low and zero carbon technologies

Thermal Modelling to review energy performance, carbon footprint and over heating

Limiting overheating through passive design features.

BRUKL output documents – iSBEM calculations for L2A compliance reporting

Energy Performance Certificates and lodgement with the Land Registry

Compliance reports for particular sectors and specialisations.

DB3 Energy & Waste

DB3 are fully accredited to provide energy and carbon emission calculations, certificates and reports for non-domestic buildings. We recognise the importance of this and have invested time and resources to register as a ‘Low Carbon Consultant and Low Carbon Energy Assessors’ with CIBSE Certification Register. Our inclusion on the register shows us to be competent to minimise energy use and carbon emissions from buildings both in design and operation.

Architecture and much more

DB3 Architecture & Design Providing RIBA Chartered sustainable architecture, urban design, landscape design and masterplanning, with supporting services including BIM, visualisation and interior design.

DB3’s architectural team comprises 35+ architects, supported by a strong team of 40+ technologists and architectural assistants with the capacity to resource projects across all sectors.

DB3 Net Zero Drawing on the experience of our in-house mechanical & electrical engineers, architects, energy assessors, Passivhaus designers and sustainability experts. Our suite of Net Zero consultancy services is broken down into six categories which cover topics around whole life cycle. These categories include; Carbon, Efficiency, Passivhaus, Wellbeing, Performance & Compliance.

DB3 Building Services Engineering Offering CIBSE Chartered Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to all sectors. The team have particular experience in the leisure sector, having delivered numerous wet and dry leisure facilities across the UK. The team incorporates Building Physics Engineering, are CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors and offer Thermal Modelling (DSM).

DB3 Professional Services The team deliver building surveying, retail project management, principal designer, contract administration and NEC supervisor roles, across the UK. Working alongside DB3’s architectural and M&E teams, these roles can be incorporated into a multi-disciplinary offering or procured as an independent service.

About DB3

As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, our expertise extends beyond architecture, meaning our clients can pick and choose key areas or combine a number of our service skill sets and project management skills when selecting our single point service offer. DB3 Group offers the following four individual business units.

Accreditations AJ100 Company RIBA Chartered Practice Passivhaus Trust Member Certified Passivhaus Designers CIAT Registered Practice CIBSE Directory of Practices & Firms CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management System Altius Approved Elite Vendor H&S SSIP Accredited, through Eurosafe and Alcumus Constructionline Gold Member Achilles RISQS Accredited Cyber Essentials Plus

Awards DB3 Group:

DB3 Features:

Winner – Insider Wales 2025 ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’; UK Enterprise Client Service Excellence Award 2024 ‘Best Sustainable Architecture Practice’; Build Architecture Awards ‘Best Sustainable Architecture & Design Firm 2023’; Yorkshire Insider Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; COMBA 2022 ‘Architect of the Year’; COBBA 2022 ‘Architect of the Year’

Building Magazine 2025 ‘40 under 40’, Hemal Patel; Building Top 150 Consultants 2025; Digital Enterprise Top 100 2021

Shortlisted – Yorkshire Insider Awards 2025 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; Building Awards 2025 ‘Architectural Practice of the Year’; COBBA 2024 ‘Architect of the Year; Yorkshire Insider Awards 2024 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; West Midlands Insider Awards 2024 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; The Grafters Awards 2024 ‘Best RIBA Architectural Practice’; West Midlands Insider Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’; UKREiiF Awards 2023 ‘Consultant of the Year’; COMBA 2023 ‘Architecture Practice’; Grafters Awards 2023 ‘Architecture Practice’; Foundations Healthy Housing Awards 2023 ‘Design of Adaptations’

National Museum Wales: Shortlisted - AJ Awards 2025 ‘Client of the Year’

DB3 Team: Shortlisted – AJ Awards 2025 ‘Emerging Architect’, Isabella Webb; G4C Yorkshire & Humber 2025 ‘New Professional of the Year’, Keitu Sibanda; Construction News Specialist Awards 2025 ‘Rising Star’, Isabella Webb; Downtown in Business COMBA 2025 ‘BDM/Salesperson of the Year’, Jen Spencer; Women in Business Awards 2025 ‘Professional of the Year’, Charlotte Scaife; Insider Yorkshire Young Professionals Awards 2025 ‘Young Business Development Professional’, Jen Spencer & ‘Young Property Professional of the Year’, Mohammed Mahdi; Shortlisted - MMC Awards 2024 ‘Women in Modern Methods of Construction’, Nainita Howard; COBBA 2023 ‘Business Development Professional’, Charlotte Scaife; Shortlisted; COMBA 2023 ‘Business Development Professional’, Charlotte Scaife

DB3 Projects: Woking High School: Shortlisted - Education Estates 2025 ‘Project of the Year - Inclusive Design’

BOSS Regent Street: Shortlisted – Retail Week ‘The Best New Store Award – Large’ Flitwick Leisure Centre: Winner – UKActive Awards 2024 ‘Regional Club/Centre of the Year – London’ Castle Farm Leisure Centre: Winner – LABC Building Excellence Awards 2024 ‘Regional Winner Best Public or Community Building’ Printworks Campus, Leeds City College: Winner – MMC Awards 2024 ‘Project of the Year Education (Secondary & Higher)’ Helensburgh Waterfront Development: Highly Commended – Argyll & Bute Awards 2023 ‘Aesthetic Design’; Finalist – Planning Awards 2023 ‘Outstanding Contribution to Placemaking: Best Use of Arts, Culture or Sport’; Highly Commended – IStructE Awards 2022 ‘Leisure Project’ Llys Cadwyn Regeneration: Winner – Cardiff Property Awards 2021 and Ystadau Cymru 2021 Award for ‘Creating Economic Growth’; Highly Commended – British Construction Industry Awards 2021; CLAW Project of the Year Awards 2021 Adidas Oxford Street: Gold Winner – London Design Awards 2020

London

Cardiff

Leeds

Glasgow

Birmingham

Aberystwyth

Manchester

0113 244 6931 contact@db3group.com www.db3group.com