Energy Minister Charles Hendry has announced plans to build two new biomass power plants in the north of England. Together, these will generate almost 600 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity – enough to power more than a million homes.
Both plants will be jointly developed by Drax and Siemens Project Ventures. The Ouse Renewable Energy Plant will be built on land at Drax’s existing 400MW coal-fired power station at Selby in North Yorkshire, and the Heron Renewable Energy Plant will be built near Immingham in North Lincolnshire. Both plants will employ up to 850 people during construction and around 150 staff when they’re up and running.
Wilding says: ‘It’s encouraging to see more investment into biomass energy production in the UK. This is a project we’d be delighted to become involved in through our existing relationship with Siemens – watch this space!’
