News: Biomass Energy Development planned for Rotherham

A planning application has been submitted for a Biomass Energy Development at the Firth Rixson Ickles Works in Templeborough, Rotherham that could create over 100 jobs.

The planned 2.6 hectare development incorporates two biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants, two chimney stacks and a 200,000 tonne per annum wood pellet manufacturing process.

It would manufacture timber wood pellets for supply to the utility power sector and the biomass CHP plants would have a combined generating capacity of about 31 MWe.

Surplus renewable electricity, sufficient to power about two thirds of the homes in Rotherham, will be exported to the local distribution network. This could offset about 250,000 tonne per annum of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning.

The plans have been drawn up by the Brite Partnership, a company formed with the sole purpose of developing projects for the production of green energy, and operating them as a viable and sustainable business.

The plans state that partners have in excess of eighty five years of experience between them in the construction industry and that other members of the team have extensive experience of the development of biomass combustion projects, with similar projects in other parts of the UK and Europe.

The concept is by Integrated Energy Systems International Ltd (IESIL) and the Rotherham project is seen as the cornerstone of the renewable energy business which Brite Partnership expects to expand on in the coming years throughout the country.

The development site is currently unoccupied due to the contraction of metalworking activities by Firth Rixson. Some disused buildings are to be demolished and three new purpose-designed buildings of 6070 sq m would be erected.

Regarding local employment potential the application states that: "The estimated workforce expected during the construction phase of the Biomass Energy Development is on average about 200, peaking at about 260 during the first quarter of the second year of the construction phase.

"Once operational it is expected that the Biomass Energy Development will require 100 full-time staff ... as well as about another 50 in the industrial and service sectors to support the operation of the facility."

Images: Brite Partnership / IESIL