Tees Renewable Energy Plant given green light

Jul 15 2009 by Kelley Price, Evening Gazette

ONE of the world’s largest biomass power stations - to be built on Teesside - was given the green light by Government planners today.

Energy Minister David Kidney announced the major step forward for the £500m Tees Renewable Energy Plant during a visit to Wilton today.

The decision, under Section 36 of the Electricity Act, means developers MGT Power are on track for a late 2012 opening date for the 295MW plant at Teesport.

New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth was awarded £10m from the Government for its work in tidal and wave energy.

The massive plant will generate £30m for the North-east economy, creating up to 600 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs on Teesside.

MGT Power has promised to commit resources towards local training and recruitment, as part of a green jobs package.

Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the Government’s Low Carbon Industry Strategy.

Chris Moore, director of MGT Power, said today’s announcement sent out an important message of confidence in Teesside, in light of recent industry job losses.

“We are elated, it’s been a long haul. We are very pleased the Government has chosen to announce our project quickly. We are recruiting and identifying key suppliers and contractors with immediate effect and have a binding contract with Redcar & Cleveland Council to use local suppliers and people where we can.

“There is a lot of process industry experience on Teesside, and port access is also important. We looked at many sites, this is the best place in the country to build the plant. Construction will begin by quarter four this year.”

He added the company would continue to work closely with the council, Teesport owners PD Ports, Renew and local trade unions whose support had been invaluable over the last two years.

Mr Kidney, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, told the Evening Gazette: “For the Tees Valley, this means a future with jobs that are equally as skilled and secure as the chemical industry of the past.

“For the UK, today’s announcement is about how we can make the transition from imported fossil fuels to a low carbon future and have more control over our own supplies.”

Chris Pywell, head of strategic economic change at regional development agency One North East, added: “This is a very important development in the next phase of the Tees Valley’s industries moving away from a carbon-based energy environment. We have gone past the start-up period and are now doing things for real.”

Today Mr Kidney also visited Sembcorp’s Wilton 10 plant, which at 30MW was the UK’s first large-scale wood-burning power station when it was built in 2007.