The 10-year deal will see the Probio Energy International business, created in April this year to handle Probio Energy’s domestic activities, become sole supplier to the facility, which is expected to be operational by March 2017.
Capable of producing 22MW of power for the National Grid, the multi-million pound plant at Tansterne, Hull, has been funded and developed by Irish renewable energy company Solar 21 in partnership with HRS Energy Ltd (see letsrecycle.com story).
The agreement is expected to create 80 jobs in Hull, as well as new positions at Probio Energy’s Hartlepool head office including a transport manager, contract manager and quality control team members.
Probio Energy will make deliveries to the plant five days a week, with waste wood to be derived from construction and commercial sources.
‘Exciting’
Commenting on the “game changing” deal, Probio Energy and Probio Energy International managing director Kris Baker-Rain said: “It’s a very exciting time for the UK’s waste wood industry, and for Probio Energy. Previously, a significant amount of recycled wood from the North East has been exported to countries such as Sweden, where it is used for heat.
“As a result of this contract, the same environmentally-friendly methods of producing electricity will be carried out here in Hull. Job creation will give an additional boost to the area, with jobs being created in Hull, and throughout the North East.”
GB Bio Ltd is expected to take over running of the plant in March once construction is completed by CF Struthers – the sister company of HRS Energy.
Projects
The Hull facility is claimed as the first in a pipeline of a five projects to be delivered by Solar 21 in partnership with HRS Energy, which has previously described the technology used in the design for the biomass plant as “unique”.
HRS claims the project, which utilises a fluidised bed combustion and heat recovery system to burn biomass ‘more effectively’ than comparable methods, will bring £35 million worth of investment to the area and secure the long-term future of 100 skilled manufacturing jobs.
The plant will also make a “significant contribution” to reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the UK, according to Mark Wickham, managing director of HRS Energy.
Probio Energy
[Update 7 September pm] Kris Baker-Rain today clarified that the biomass supply work for the Hull facility will be handled by Probio Energy International, rather than the Probio Energy Ltd business which he also heads up. Established in 2013, Probio Energy services export refuse-derived fuel (RDF) contracts in the North East including a deal with Niramax to export 30,000 tonnes of waste to Bulgaria (see letsrecycle.com story). Frank Antropik, director of Niramax, has also served as director of Probio Energy since 2013 – while the largest shareholder in Probio Energy is Seneca Investments and Developments Ltd.
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