- Decision gives green light to low carbon energy and job creationas part of £250m investment -

 

Leading British renewable energy company RES has today welcomed the Government’s decision to grant development consent for its North Blyth Biomass Power Station, located at Battleship Wharf in

Northumberland’s Blyth Estuary. Once operational the 100MW power station will be able to generate low carbon electricity to power the equivalent of over 170,000 UK households every year using sustainably sourced wood-based fuel.

 

The decision by the Secretary of State for Energy enables RES to deliver the £250m project, providing a significant investment in the Blyth and wider North East economy, as well as bringing hundreds of job opportunities during the two to three year construction process.

 

The North Blyth Biomass Power Station is RES’ first biomass development, and joins an extensive and growing portfolio of onshore and offshore wind as well as solar energy projects that have been developed by the leading independent renewable energy generator.

 

Commenting on the positive decision, RES Project Manager Chris Lawson states:

 

“We are delighted by the Government’s decision to grant permission for North Blyth Power Station, which we believe will play an important part in the strong and growing renewable energy industry in South East Northumberland. It is also a welcome confirmation of the Government’s support for sustainable, low carbon energy projects which will make a significant contribution towards meeting the UK’s legally binding 2020 renewable energy targets.

 

“We now look forward to taking the project forward to construction and to kick starting this multi-million pound investment in the Blyth Estuary area.”

 

As a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’, the North Blyth Biomass Power Station has been subject to extensive scrutiny and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, from local councils, business and environmental and statutory bodies through to national government. RES has also engaged extensively with the local communities around the project over the last four years.

 

Chris Lawson continues:

 

“We have really appreciated the interest and input that the local community has given to the North Blyth Biomass Power Station, and in particular the work of the Community Liaison Group (CLG). We will continue to work with the CLG, as well as local residents and business, as we move towards starting construction next year. We also look forward to engaging with local people on the Community Benefit Fund that the project will bring.”

 

RES anticipates that construction will start in 2014 and would last for round two and a half years.