RWE Innogy moves away from biomass

RWE Innogy and Fri-El Green Power have concluded the transfer of RWE Innogy's 80% stake in Enna, a biomass power plant based in Sicily, Italy, to Fri-El. The deal includes the respective biomass harvesting and forest management activities.

RWE Innogy Italia, with an 80% share in the power plant, and Fri-El, with a 20% share, were the sole parties in the joint venture following RWE Innogy's recent acquisition of a 10% stake of the former joint venture partner (IG).

RWE Innogy said in a statement that, due to a strategic realignment, it no longer considers smaller biomass plants to be core business in the fields of renewables. In future, the company will focus on the sectors of on- and offshore wind and hydropower.

Phil Piddington, head of RWE Innogy Biomass, says: 'Together with Fri-El Green Power we have constructed the first biomass cogeneration plant in Sicily. I am now proud to hand over a power plant that operates well. In times of limited funds, the disposal of non-core biomass activities is a required step for RWE Innogy and contributes to support future in core segments.'

The biomass plant has a capacity of 18.7MW and is designed for a power generation output of 126,000MWh. This is enough to supply about 30,000 residential households with electricity per year.