E.ON's Blackburn Meadows biomass plant generates electricity

E.ON UK has produced renewable energy for the first time at its Blackburn Meadows biomass plant in Sheffield.

The £120 million (€150 million) Blackburn Meadows plant is now the third biomass facility in E.ON UK's generation portfolio and can provide enough energy to power around 40,000 homes.

The 30MW renewable energy plant will convert locally sourced recycled waste wood into electricity, displacing emissions of around 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Work commenced on Blackburn Meadows in 2011 and since then, around 3,400 people have been involved in the construction process, including local contractors, helping to bring new jobs and investment to the area.

Luke Ellis, E.ON's Blackburn Meadows project manager, said: 'The next and final stage of the project is the reliability and performance testing phase which is due to be completed this summer.'

Blackburn Meadows will also supply hot water to a new £20 million low-carbon district heating network, which is due to be completed in early 2015, and will supply heat directly to homes and businesses in the area.