Green Light for U.K. Biomass Plant

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The U.K. government has granted permission for the construction of a 100-megawatt (MW) biomass power station at Blyth Harbour, in Northumberland.

Permission was granted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to Renewable Energy Systems Limited (RES) (Kings Langley, England) for the planned North Blyth Biomass Power Station, located at Battleship Wharf in the Blyth Estuary. RES said the plant will be able to generate enough low carbon electricity to power the equivalent of over 170,000 households a year by burning sustainably sourced wood-based fuel.

"Sustainably sourced biomass has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix, enhancing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," commented a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesman, after consent was granted. "If constructed, this development will help bring jobs and growth to the local economy."

Construction on the €290 million ($385 million) project will kick off next year and is expected to take two to three years. The plant will use wood-based biomass fuels that come in the form of wood chip, pellet or briquette. These will come from sustainably-sourced domestic or imported forestry material, dedicated energy crops or non-recyclable waste wood. The North Blyth Biomass Power Station is RES' first biomass development. The company has several onshore and offshore wind projects in operation as well some solar developments.

RES Project Manager, Chris Lawson, stated: "[The plant] will play an important part in the strong and growing renewable energy industry in South East Northumberland. It is also a welcome confirmation of the Government's support for sustainable, low carbon energy projects which will make a significant contribution towards meeting the U.K.'s legally binding 2020 renewable energy targets. We now look forward to taking the project forward to construction and to kick starting this multi-million pound investment in the Blyth Estuary area."

RES has issued a competitive tender for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract.

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