News: Progress for Templeborough biomass energy development

Plans for a biomass energy development at Templeborough in Rotherham are moving forward with plans submitted for a timber processing plant nearby.

Full planning permission was granted in 2010 for the development at the Firth Rixson Ickles Works where land and disused buildings where purchased in March 2011.

The planned 2.6 hectare development incorporates two biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants with a combined generating capacity of about 31 MWe. It could create 100 jobs.

Operators, the Brite Partnership, are now in discussions to buy Rotherham Council's Greasborough Road depot with plans to use it as a timber debarking and chipping plant.

The proposal is to demolish the existing buildings on the site, and to replace them with a new purpose-designed building to house the process equipment plus a building used for storage. It will have a capacity of 525,000 tonnes of wood chipping each year and will create 350,000 tonnes for the Templeborough facility.

Plans state that 40 operational staff could be employed on the Greasborough Road site.

The Brite Partnership, was formed with the sole purpose of developing projects for the production of green energy, and operating them as a viable and sustainable business.

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 Rotherham project is seen as the cornerstone of the renewable energy business which the partnership expects to expand on in the coming years throughout the country.

E.ON recently announced construction plans for biomass energy plant at Blackburn Meadows in Sheffield. The £120m renewable energy plant will be set near the site of the old Tinsley Towers, adjacent to Meadowhall, and when operational will generate up to 30MW.

Brite Partnership website

Images: Brite Partnership / IESIL