funding news

08/08/2012 - Tees Valley Chosen as Site of World's Largest Renewables Plant

The Tees Valley plant, located at the New Energy and Technology Business Park near Billingham, will be the largest in the world, and is expected to produce enough electricity to power up to 50,000 homes.

US-based Air Products expect the plant to create 50 permanent jobs, helping to bolster the local economy and grow a green skills base in advanced clean technology.

The Tees Valley Renewable Energy facility's core conversion technology – a Westinghouse gasifier supplied by AlterNRG – has been used successfully in other countries such as Japan. Once operational, the plant will divert up to 350,000 metric tons of non-recyclable waste from landfill per year.

UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

"Advanced gasification has a key role to play in delivering renewable energy and I warmly welcome the decision by Air Products to proceed with its Tees Valley Renewable Energy Facility.

"Air Products' announcement reflects the UK's commitment and support for clean energy, combined with our stable and transparent environment for investors."

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley said:

"Today's announcement confirms that we were right to propose our bold and ambitious Enterprise Zone – our confidence in the Tees Valley offer has resulted in a fantastic project for the area.

"The area is famous for delivering and supporting large scale projects and international firsts – it is our heritage and our backbone. Now further expansion into new technologies and renewable energy continues to make Tees Valley one of the prime centres for significant inward investment.

"Air Products came to us with bold plans and a pioneering vision of the future and we are delighted to help them make that a reality."

Air Products has secured environmental planning approvals for the facility, which is intended to begin operation in 2014.

Source: bdaily.co.uk, 08/08/2012