The centre is being developed by MITIEs Asset Management business, technology company O-Gen UK and local business support company, the Una Group.
The companies have come together to form a new energy services company known as O-Gen Plymtrek, which is exploring opportunities to supply the energy from the plant to a local business.
The plant on Belliver Way in Plymouth will work by converting waste wood, destined for landfill, to a gas fuel which will be combusted in a boiler to create steam. This steam will drive a turbine to produce the energy. It will generate around 26,000 MWh of electricity a year as well as heat.
A spokesman for MITIE told letsrecycle.com: The development of the site is on target. The exterior of the building is now complete and some of the plant has arrived at the site and is being installed. We expect the plant to become operational from 10/12.
The spokesman added that contracts for the waste wood were still being finalised but the aim was that it would come from a local catchment area. He said the developers were confident of sourcing enough waste wood for the facility, given the options we have at this site.
Funding
The South West Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) has given a grant of 525,000 to the new energy centre in recognition of the impact it will have on the local economy by creating jobs. The plant will create 23 local jobs once it is operational next summer and 50 for contractors in the construction phase. The development is also being funded via debt financing from Close Bank.
Commenting on the project last year, Mike Tivey, managing director of MITIEs Asset Management Business, said: We are delighted to be developing this innovative energy plant which will bring new jobs to the local community in Plymouth.
Generating energy from waste material is an important part of the fast-growing decentralised energy market, which provides organisations and communities with secure, locally generated power and heat for the future.
David Pike, Managing Director O-Gen UK, added: We are delighted to work with MITIE in the development and expansion of our timber resource recovery business. This plant represents the first of a series of combined heat and power plants currently under discussion with MITIE across the South West region.
MITIEs Asset Management business will operate and maintain the plant, which uses technology provided by O-Gen UK, during a 10 year contract. The technology is eligible for the enhanced Governments Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) as an advanced thermal conversion technology.
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