Advanced Plasma Power, the Swindon based power from waste company, is looking for commercial UK sites for its gas plasma technology. The company says it can generate clean, renewable energy from household waste that has hitherto been destined for landfill. Their technology is used to process waste which cannot be recycled and vaporises it at temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius.

The technology, called gas plasma, is claimed to create hydrogen gas and a non-toxic stone material from rubbish. The hydrogen can be used to drive turbines, which make electricity and heat, while the stone material could be used in building. APP says a plant treating 100,000 tonnes of waste could power more than 8,000 homes. The firm’s chief executive, Andrew Hamilton, said: “We think it is a very exciting breakthrough. It is a combination of existing technologies but we have made them work together. We are now taking it to commercial development. We think it has other applications, not only in the UK but around the world, because of the need to divert waste away from landfill and help achieve renewable energy targets.”

APP is currently securing sites around the UK and is hoping to persuade councils to let it process waste. It is also seeking potential clients, including electricity companies. “This operation would run 24 hours a day,” said Mr Hamilton. “It is not like wind power, which only blows occasionally. “This could put Swindon at the heart of plasma technology in the UK.” The company says only one per cent of waste treated in its plant would have to go to landfill. “It also promises to have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any power plant. APP has been developing the technique for three years after the technology was developed by Tectronics , a sister company based in Faringdon.