£200 million biomass plant planned in UK

The Lancashire Post reports that plans to build a £200 million (€229 million) biomass plant are underway in Preston, Lancashire that would have the capacity to turn up to 395,000 tonnes of residual waste per year, into alternative fuel.

Infrastructure development company, Miller Turner have told the Lancashire Post that the plant will burn largely biomass waste that will generate low carbon electricity.

Longridge Road Energy Centre has assigned Red Scar Industrial Estate located off of Junction 31a on the M6, as the plot to construct the plant on.  

Gregory Ewing, CEO of Miller Turner said, “Our team has great experience of developing energy projects, including plants like Longridge Road Energy Centre. It will use well-proven, efficient technology which is currently in operation at numerous energy recovery facilities across the UK and Europe. The plant will operate under a strict licensing system administered by the Environment Agency.”

Ewing continued, “Red Scar is an excellent site for our proposals. The motorway and local road connections mean there is no need for delivery vehicles to go through residential areas. “The technology will ensure no odours are present outside the plant and will operate well within strict environmental regulations.”

Bosses at Miller Turner are aiming to submit a planning application for the plant to Lancashire County Council by spring of this year.

The plant is expected to generate around 40 megawatts of low carbon electricity which Longridge Road Energy say could power up to 89,000 homes.

“The project is a huge opportunity for Preston and Lancashire to generate stable, low carbon electricity and, in the process, help to sustain or create jobs and reduce landfill, which is relatively high in Lancashire and damaging to our environment,” added Ewing.