Blyth Harbour biomass power station gets government go-ahead

£250m project will generate low-carbon electricity to power 170,000 homes

The government has granted development consent for a 99.9MW biomass power station to be built at Blyth Harbour in Northumberland.

The biomass power station will use sustainably sourced wood-based fuel to generate enough low-carbon electricity to power as many as 170,000 UK households a year.

The developer, RES, said the £250 project would provide a significant investment in the Blyth and wider North East economy, as well as providing between 200 to 300 job opportunities during the two to three-year construction process.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said: “Sustainably sourced biomass has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix, enhancing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“This development will help bring jobs and growth to the local economy.”

The power station will be located next to the River Blyth in south-east Northumberland, within the port's existing Battleship Wharf materials handling facility. The development will consist of a group of fuel storage buildings, a boiler house, and a chimney which will be approximately 105m tall to ensure that air quality standards are met.

The power station is RES' first biomass development. It will join the company's portfolio of onshore and offshore wind and solar energy projects.