UK - Worlds largest biomass plant gets environmental clearance

The 350 MW facility, powered by wood chips from sustainable sources, is expected to produce enough electricity to power 500,000 Welsh homes

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The UKs Environment Agency said today that a proposed station, expected to be Britains largest biomass power plant, has been given environmental permitting to move forward.

But its not the first time the plant has been given initial planning approval from UK regulators (see UK approves world's biggest biomass plant). It received clearance in 2007 but appears to have been held back by a lengthy environmental evaluation process and discussions with the local community.

The 350 megawatt plant was expected to cost 400 million ($643.72 million) in 2007 and be online by 2010. The project is being developed by Londons Prenergy Power, which was not available for comment today.

Environment Agency spokesman Curig Jones told the Cleantech Group today he was not sure whether the cost of the project had risen since 2007, but that the agency is not involved in financing the plant. He indicated there are certain requirements a project like this has to go through in terms of permitting from government and local authorities.

The station, called the Prenergy plant, in Port Talbot, South Wales, is to use wood chips that come from sustainable sources to produce enough electricity to power 500,000 Welsh homes.

In the future, we would like to see all biomass developers meet the high standards that have been set by Prenergy, said Tony Grayling, the Environment Agencys head of climate change and sustainable development, in a news release.

The plant is expected to produce electricity with 50 percent to 80 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than gas or coal fired power stations.

Permitting from the Environment Agency is intended to ensure that the plant meets environmental standards, including not having a measurable impact on local air quality.

In July, a similar project received the green light from the UK government. UK-based MGT Power received the OK to build a 500 million ($821.4 million), 295 MW biomass plant. The power station is expected to be built at Teesport, a large sea port in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire county, in northeast England (see MGT Power moves forward on 295 MW biomass plant).

Additional Information

Web Site: http://www.cleantech.com

Category: Forestry>Biomass Energy

Region: UK

Ad Running: 10/2/2009-10/31/2011

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