Main contractors announced for major Scottish biomass project
Tuesday 09 February 2010
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| l-r: Dave Raybould from Aker Solutions, Peter Sharman from RWE, Dave Ley from Aker Solutions (standing), Lennart Ohlsson from Metso (standing), Martin Lenkens from RWE (sitting) and Kari Remes from Metso |
RWE npower renewables has appointed two main contractors for the £200 million biomass combined heat and power plant it is planning to develop at Markinch, Fife.
Global supplier of technology and services for a variety of industries, Metso (Finland) and Aker Solutions (Norway) - provider of engineering and construction services - are to take forward the project.
Metso will provide the site's main biomass boiler and Aker Solution will provide design and support services, project manage construction and procure some of the plant equipment.
RWE npower renewables is working in partnership with paper maker Tullis Russell to supply its paper mill with steam and electricity from the new biomass facility (see this NewEnergyFocus.com story).
The plant, which RWE claims will be the biggest of its kind in Scotland, will have an installed capacity of 50MW and will replace the existing coal-fired power plant at Tullis Russell.
Commenting on the new contracts, Stephan Lohr, RWE head of biomass, said: "The combined skills and expertise of our chosen contractors Metso and Aker Solutions will be a major asset during the construction of the new Tullis Russell biomass power plant.
"This project is RWE's largest investment to date in biomass based power generation and part of our ongoing commitment to invest €1 billion per annum in renewable energy. In addition to this project, we are developing plans for a similar biomass plant in Lincolnshire, with an installed capacity of 65 MW. Across Europe, we are aiming to build biomass plants with a total installed capacity of around 390 MW by 2013."
He added that while initial groundwork has begun, construction would begin "in earnest" later this year and the power plant is scheduled for operation in late 2012.
The development received £8.1 million support via the Scottish Government's Regional Selective Assistance grant, established to support the creation of new jobs.
It is expected to reduce Tullis Russell's Markinch site carbon footprint by 72%, helping to reduce Scotland's annual carbon emissions at the paper maker by 250,000 tonnes per annum.
Contractors
Commenting on the contract, Lennart Ohlsson, president of Metso, said: "We are very happy to have this opportunity to work with RWE npower renewables and help reduce CO2 emissions in Scotland through the development of this new biomass plant."
And, senior vice president of the Europe, Middle East & Africa region with Aker Solutions' process and construction business area, Johan Cnossen, said: "Aker Solutions has extensive engineering and construction capability in power generation, particularly in the UK and the US.
"We are looking forward to working together with RWE npower renewables, Metso and our suppliers on this important biomass project."
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