The submission of the PAN signals the start of the pre-application consultation for the forthcoming planning application. .

The proposed development would process non-recyclable municipal waste from Aberdeen City as well as neighbouring local authorities, Aberdeenshire and Moray, subject to a formal legal agreement between the three councils.

A key feature of the EfW plant is the generation of heat and power, essentially developing a waste-fuelled power station to provide secure, low-cost energy to households, businesses and council facilities.

Aberdeen has led the way with the development of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) projects in the city, which has provided energy efficient, low-cost heating in 22 multi-storey blocks and a number of public buildings throughout the city.

The new plant would also help the region meet national recycling targets.

The Scottish Government is aiming for 70 per cent of waste to be recycled by 2025, with less than 5 per cent going to landfill. Aberdeen City Council’s Waste Strategy aims for the city to be zero waste by 2025.

The site at Greenbank Crescent, East Tullos, is identified as a waste management site in the proposed Aberdeen Local Development Plan.

The planned capacity for the facility is approximately 150,000 tonnes of waste a year. Aberdeen City Council collected 112,880 tonnes of municipal solid waste in 2014, of which 37,331 tonnes was recycled and the remainder went to landfill.

Councillor Jean Morrison, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s zero waste sub-committee, said: “This plant would allow the city to benefit from heat and power produced from non-recyclable waste.

“These benefits would include the alleviation of fuel poverty and a reduction in landfill costs.

“Most of the waste in this region is currently going to landfill, which is unsustainable in environmental terms and does not allow for the recovery of any value from the waste collected.

“I would encourage local residents to engage with the city council during the upcoming public consultation.”

Councillor John Cowe, who chairs Moray Council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee, said: “Given the economies of scale required for this type of facility, it makes sense to work together to provide a solution that will benefit the whole of the north-east of Scotland.”

A public consultation event is planned for November 2015 and the planning application is expected to be made in early 2016.