The joint venture, Multifuel Energy Ltd (MFE), has signed up Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) as main contractor, as it has extensive experience on similar multifuel projects. On-site preparation work is underway and full construction will begin in the summer. Completion of the 68MW multifuel facility is expected by early 2015, with power generation starting mid 2015.
The facility will use a range of waste-derived fuels to generate electricity and heat. Consent was granted by the Department of Energy & Climate Change in October 2011. When operational, the electricity generated by the plant will be sold to SSE.
SSE's joint venture with Shanks, 3SE, is planning to build a mechanical biological treatment and anaerobic digestion facility at Bolton Road, Manvers by 2015. This will supply fuel for MFE.
The multifuel plant at Ferrybridge is not intended to replace the existing 1,000MW of coal capacity which is closing in 2015 due to the European Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD). SSE has not yet made a decision on the future main use of Ferrybridge Power Station, which is currently also home to the UK's largest carbon capture trial, CCPilot100+, in conjunction with Doosan Power Systems and Vattenfall.
SSE managing director of generation Paul Smith said: "Multifuel technology is a tried and tested way of generating clean, base-load power. This new multifuel plant will provide additional diversity to SSE's generation portfolio and make a useful contribution to ensuring we have reliable energy supplies for the future.
"The transactions that make up this project represent a strong partnership between four major players in the multifuel sector, who are committed to making a serious level of investment in this technology. Between them the companies involved have extensive experience in sourcing and processing waste, constructing and commissioning multifuel technologies, and operating generation plant. This partnership creates a great platform to develop multi-fuel technology in future."
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