UK to build largest (350 MW) biomass power plant

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=912

UK to build largest biomass power plant

Friday, 23 November 2007
The UK government has given the go-ahead for the largest biomass power plant in the world, to be built in south Wales.

The 350 megawatt plant would be run around the clock to provide baseload power, burning 3 million tonnes of woodchip fuel a year. This would be sourced from sustainable forestry plantations in North America, the government says.

The Port Talbot plant alone is expected to deliver 70 per cent of Wales’s renewable energy target when completed by 2010. It will cost the equivalent of €560 million and be operational until 2035.

"This will be the biggest biomass plant in the world, generating enough clean energy to power half the homes in Wales," Britain’s Business Secretary John Hutton said.

While accepted as being carbon emission neutral, environmental opponents have criticised the project for the local air pollution it may cause and the lack of any heating co-generation.

Agence France-Presse, Press Association 21/11/07

I'm sorry... we're exporting wood chips to burn in Wales!?

[razzleberry]

1. this is the EU renewable-fuels-program in action

instead of the wood chips being used in the US
for a similar purpose,

the chips are transported across the ocean,
with the intention of making $$$ as companies
try to comply with the renewable mandate.


(I am not saying the renewable-fuel-mandate is all bad,
however, I think this is an abuse)

[Nihil]

2. This is one of the times I agree with you.

The OP had me thinking "Great" until I got to the third sentence:
> This would be sourced from sustainable forestry plantations
> in North America, the government says.

What a way to f*ck it all up.

There are sustainable forestry plantations in Wales, in England and
(big-time) in Scotland. Why are they shipping wood across the Atlantic
to burn it here? The only answer is that someone has wormed their way
into the plan in order to make a short-term profit. Bastards.

What was that phrase about something being paved with good intentions ...?

:cry: