Homepage
E-mail this article
Print
8:49 am, March 5, 2010
Brunner Mond bids to build green power plant
Brunner Mond has announced plans to build a sustainable energy plant on the site of a disused power station at Lostock near Northwich.
A joint venture with energy group E.ON, it will be powered by a non-hazardous, solid fuel made from pre-treated waste that would otherwise go to landfill.
The plant, which will also use some biomass material, is part of the soda ash producer's efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels such as gas.
John Kerrigan, managing director, said: “We hope to do this by building a highly efficient energy plant that will produce around a third of our business's heat energy from a renewable and sustainable fuel.
"The development of this proposed facility demonstrates Brunner Mond's commitment to maintaining the longer term competitiveness of our business and our ability to continue to contribute to the local economy.
Brunnder Mond, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, said the plant will use approximately 600,000 tonnes of fuel per year to produce up to 60MW of electricity and around 100 tonnes per hour of steam. This is equivalent to the energy needs of 45,000 homes.
Kerrigan added: “The use of energy and carbon footprints are among the main issues for all industry and like everyone else, we have to play our part in meeting national energy and CO2 reduction targets. This project will help us to tackle climate change by reducing our carbon footprint and using renewable energy sources. As a business, we are committed to helping the UK meet its renewable energy targets by adopting sustainable practices.”
The solid fuel for the plant will be delivered to the site preferentially by rail but also by road in covered bulk transporters, pre-treated and ready for use. Brunner Mond will not have any involvement in manufacturing the fuel.
Brunner Mond said the new plant would help maintain its long-term efficiency and competitiveness and meet UK government and European best practice to recover energy from non-recyclable material for use in heat and power schemes.
It will also supply renewable energy to the National Grid and create about 40 to 50 permanent jobs.
The company is to submit an application to build the plant to the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
Comments?manchesternews@crain.com
Readers' Poll
What could be done to turn around Channel M?
A: Focus on sport, music and the arts
B: Make it a business news channel
C: Public subsidy to cover its losses
D: It's too late to save it
Votes cast: 337
Other News
This Week's Issue
