Press Release

Former power station equipment to be sold to support circular economy

New owners of the former Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Warrington look to repurpose plant, equipment and inventory

Large sale of transformers, pumps, motors, machinery, water processing plant and other equipment a boost for circular economy across several industries

The redevelopment of Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Warrington will not only provide new much-needed homes and jobs, it will also help to boost the circular economy with the auction of second-hand equipment and assets.

After 50 years as a coal-fired power station, Fiddler’s Ferry was decommissioned in March 20 and bought by Peel NRE in June 2022 to help drive investment into Warrington and surrounding towns.

Video footage courtesy of PeelNRE

Peel NRE’s 10-15 year masterplan for the 820-acre brownfield forms part of the draft Warrington Local Plan and will provide energy efficient housing and up to 250 acres of employment space alongside new parkland and wildlife areas.

Material from the eight 115m high cooling towers will also be repurposed onsite once they are demolished, while all the remaining plant, machinery and inventory from the power station complex itself will be made available for sale at auction on February 15th and during 2023 by negotiation for re-use across several industries.

Peel NRE, specialists in natural resources and energy, have commissioned specialists to handle the sale: Hickman Shearer, a leading independent capital asset valuation, management and used equipment sales company, and CA Global Partners (CAGP), industrial auctioneers who operate worldwide providing equipment management and capital recovery solutions in technology, finance, and industry. Both are highly experienced in projects of this kind.

“This is a textbook regeneration project for others to follow,” said Dan Main of CAGP. “Not only will it create new homes and jobs for the local community, but the way in which assets are being redistributed will help offset a significant carbon footprint of a site that has been dependent on fossil fuels for half a century.”

In general terms, the inventory can be divided up into valves, motors, transformers, power generation components and support equipment as well as hand tools, machine tools, lifting equipment and more.

“All of this inventory and equipment can be repurposed, some by the power industry but the rest by other industries, such as ports and the marine sector, as well as by wider manufacturing concerns,” says Dan Main.

“While our objective is to realise optimum value for our client, we also want to ensure that as much of this equipment as possible goes on to further productive use, which should contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of this site as it undergoes its transformation towards future community prosperity,” says Tim Chapman of Hickman Shearer, who will oversee private treaty sales for specialised equipment.

“All of this shows how a market-leading sustainability programme can come out of a long-standing brownfield site,” says Tim Chapman.

Kieran Tames, Peel NRE’s Director of Development, added: “It’s important to us that we reuse, repurpose and recycle as much as we can from the former power station to help keep our carbon footprint to a minimum, and as well as going to auction with machinery from the site, we’ve already donated some items to local charities and plan to donate more soft furnishings, office, canteen and kitchen equipment as we progress through the demolition.”

The auction will take place from 10am on February 15, 2023, with the catalogue being published online at www.fiddlersferrysale.co.uk.

Summary of equipment to be auctioned on February 15, 2023

Lots to include:

  • Transformers
  • Gearboxes and drives
  • Exciter drive coupling assembly
  • Actuator
  • Motors
  • Valves
  • Pumps
  • Racks of large fuses
  • Adwell motor core tester
  • Workbenches
  • Lifting equipment and power tools
  • Tooling
  • Racking

 Summary of equipment for negotiated sale during 2023:

  • Reverse osmosis plant (upgrade 2020)
  • Fluid filtration plant (2007)
  • Ball mill
  • 500MW stator and armature (unused)
  • 600MVA Areva transformer (2006)
  • Selection of large capacity pumps and motors
  • Demountable buildings, tanks, conveyors, HVAC plant air compressors etc

About Peel NRE – Re-energising Natural Resources

Peel NRE, part of Peel L&P, is at the heart of the nation’s activity around clean growth and the circular economy – helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 and supporting regions in their actions to achieve climate emergency targets.

We reuse, repurpose and re-energise natural resources to develop and maintain vital infrastructure across the UK and are experts in renewable energies, district heating, waste to value, water management, materials management and electric vehicle charging.

Peel NRE’s track record also includes transforming redundant and heavy industrial sites to support local and regional aspirations and development needs for employment and housing.

More about Peel NRE at www.peellandp.co.uk/peelnre

About Hickman Shearer

Hickman Shearer is a leading independent capital asset valuation, management and used equipment sales company. Established in 1993, we are based in the United Kingdom with network offices across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

We provide expertise and professional advice in relation to plant, machinery and equipment, inventory and the built environment.

Our clients include global and mid-sized corporations, the public sector, insurers, lenders, investors and their advisors, who harness our deep knowledge and experience to respond to, and resolve, asset related issues.

Our wide-ranging skills and expertise support asset rich organisations throughout the life of the business and the asset.

About CA Global Partners

For 25 years CA Global Partners has been a leading asset disposition solutions provider to companies worldwide leveraging real time digital technologies and proven marketing expertise to reach a broad network of qualified buyers around the world. From Fortune 500 companies to small business organisations in a variety of industries ranging from construction manufacturing and wholesale distribution to food and beverage healthcare and consumer products CA Global has demonstrated its ability to move assets quickly and efficiently for maximum return.

Leaders in technology, finance and industry choose CA for sound advice and superior management of their capital recovery strategies.