Forth Energy Cancels U.K. Biomass Projects

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Forth Energy has scrapped a number of U.K. biomass projects worth more than €1.3 billion ($1.8 billion).

The joint venture company said it will look for developers to take the consented projects forward but would no longer look to develop them itself as a key partner has reduced its investment plans for renewables. The consented projects affected are the Grangemouth CHP, Scotland's largest planned combined heat and power (CHP) project at the Port of Grangemouth, and the Rosyth wood-fuelled biomass CHP project at the Port of Rosyth. The company has also withdrawn its application for another plant at the Port of Dundee.

"Forth Energy, a joint venture between SSE (OTC:SSEZY) (Perth, Scotland) and Forth Ports plc (Edinburgh, Scotland), confirms that it is not continuing with plans to develop the Grangemouth and Rosyth wood fuelled renewable energy projects," the company stated. "Both projects have gained consent from the Scottish Government and Forth Energy is investigating options to attract other developers to take the projects forward. Forth Energy has withdrawn its application for the proposed plant at the Port of Dundee following an objection from Dundee City Council."

Back in 2009, the joint venture was revealed with plans to build four plants with a combined capacity of about 400-megawatts (MW). The sites for the proposed plants were at Forth's Dundee, Leith, Rosyth and Grangemouth ports. For additional information, see September 9, 2009, article - Four Biomass-Fired Power Plants Proposed for Scotland.

Assuming new partners can be found, Grangemouth will be capable of generating up to 120 MW of renewable electricity as well as provide up to 200 MW of thermal heat for local businesses and industry. The electricity generated could power approximately 130,000 homes. The plant is expected cost around €548 million ($728 million) to construct and will take approximately three years to build.

At Rosyth, consent was granted for a CHP capable of producing 120 MW of electricity and 30 MW of heat. Both plants were to be fueled by "sustainably sourced wood fuel," primarily from overseas and which would have been delivered to the plants by ship.

Forth Energy partner SSE has announced a major shake-up in its future renewable energy investment plans in recent weeks. At the end of March the company radically reduced its interests in a number of large offshore wind projects worth over €24 billion ($32.9 billion). For additional information, see March 31, 2014, article - SSE Slashes Offshore Wind Plans.

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