Essex biomass plant gets green light

The government has today (27 August) given the go-ahead for a new 60MW biomass plant at Tilbury Docks in Essex.

The move means Tilbury Green Power, part of Express Energy Holdings, is clear to start construction on the plant which will produce enough electricity to supply 100,000 homes. Building work is expected to take up to three years to complete, creating 380 jobs.

When operational the plant will be powered by woodchips from a variety of sources. Initially around 90% will be imported from Europe and the USA, with the remainder from the UK, but Tilbury Green Power plans to reverse this over a three to five-year period.

Commenting on the decision, energy and climate change minister Lord Hunt said:

“If we are to tackle climate change we must reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and also make use of renewable sources of fuel. This power station will achieve both those objectives by turning waste into energy and using biomass, which will also contribute to delivering the UK’s renewable energy targets.

Proposals to construct power stations with a capacity greater than 50 MW require the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change’s consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.