The project is being commissioned as part of INEOS ChlorVinyls’ ongoing strategy to widen its energy [...]]]> AFC Energy, the low cost alkali fuel cell company, recently announced that it has signed a letter of intent with European chemicals major INEOS ChlorVinyls to develop a hydrogen fuel cell project at its Runcorn Site manufacturing complex in Cheshire, UK.

The project is being commissioned as part of INEOS ChlorVinyls’ ongoing strategy to widen its energy portfolio and to seek out alternative energy generation methods to offset energy generated from conventional fossil fuels.

AFC Energy and INEOS ChlorVinyls will work together to develop a solution that will deliver energy from surplus hydrogen arising out of the chlorine manufacturing process. AFC Energy has already successfully demonstrated electricity generation utilising industrially produced hydrogen.

Ian Balchin, AFC Energy’s MD said “This is significant step for AFC Energy, having successfully demonstrated an AFC Fuel Cell system using industrially produced hydrogen, we are able to work with new partners. We look forward to working closely with INEOS ChlorVinyls”.

For further information please visit www.afcenergy.com or contact:

At 295MW capacity, the plant will generate enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 600,000 homes and will be one of the largest-ever biomass plants to [...]]]> A £500m Renewable Energy Plant, located at Teesport, and being developed by British company MGT Power Limited has received consent from the British Government under Section 36 of the Electricity Act.

At 295MW capacity, the plant will generate enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 600,000 homes and will be one of the largest-ever biomass plants to be built in the world, and one of the largest of all renewable energy projects. The Tees Renewable Energy Plant will enter commercial operation in late 2012.

Chris Moore, Director of MGT Power said:

The Government’s consent is welcome news as we are at an advanced stage with forestry establishment for fuel sourcing, and power plant procurement. We can now mandate our banks, conclude the financing and reach agreement with our preferred technology bidders. We are moving towards an early construction start with a high degree of confidence.

He added: “Other similarly sized biomass plants are proposed in other parts of the country but our Teesport project is currently two years ahead of the pack and likely to be one of the first to be operational. It comes at a time when replacement UK energy generation capacity is urgently needed. We will continue to work closely with Redcar & Cleveland Council as well as PD Ports, the owners of Teesport, Renew Tees Valley and the local Trade Unions to complete the project. Their support and commitment to the project over the last 2 years has been invaluable. ”

The Tees Renewable Energy Plant will help to meet the Government’s environmental and renewable energy targets and add to the country’s growing need to diversify its power generation. It will create 600 jobs during the three year construction period, 150 permanent jobs during the station’s lifetime, and once operating will contribute about £30m per annum into the North East’s economy, supporting a further 300-400 jobs indirectly. It will save 1.2million tonnes of CO2 per year and will account for 5.5% of the UK’s renewable electricity target.

David Kidney MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change said:

The Tees Renewable Energy Plant brings a range of economic and environmental benefits, not least creating new jobs at Teesport, and the use of clean technology will help reduce carbon emissions. Biomass generation, using sustainable sources, is starting to make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy market and will help us reach our renewable targets.

The biomass feedstock for the Tees Renewable Energy Plant will be sourced from certified sustainable forestry projects developed by the MGT team and partners in North and South America and the Baltic States. These projects will provide clean burning woodchip, which delivers 95% greenhouse gas savings in comparison to coal or natural gas through the life cycle and will not use high quality land suitable for food crops.

The plant will use around 2.4m tonnes of woodchips per annum and will operate at baseload – 24 hours a day, all year round. This means the Tees Renewable Energy Plant will produce the same amount of renewable electricity over a year as a 1,000MW wind farm.

Energy Minister, Lord Hunt, delivered the keynote address on the subject [...]]]> EDF Energy today held a supply chain event in London for UK contractors. Entitled “New Nuclear Opportunities”, it highlights the company’s plans to invest in new nuclear power stations in the UK and the role that British businesses will have to help deliver the investment.

Energy Minister, Lord Hunt, delivered the keynote address on the subject of the Government’s perspective.

EDF Energy intends to build four new EPR reactors in the UK with the first operational by the end of 2017. Such major investment in infrastructure will generate considerable commercial opportunities for the UK supply chain and British workers.

EDF Energy’s UK new build programme is expected to lead to the tendering of about 150 contracts worth many billions of pounds.

Over 300 UK companies attended the event which will help ensure that UK companies are aware of the opportunities that EDF Energy’s investment plans will create. Suppliers have been given information about the EDF Energy procurement process and the work packages which will be available for bids.

EDF Energy Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz said:

This conference is where we begin forging working relationships that will last many years, or even decades. It is no longer about should we build new nuclear plants in the UK, or even when. It is now about how. We have the resources and expertise to make it happen.

The huge investment we will now make to deliver new nuclear is good news for UK workers because it will create significant employment opportunities over the coming years. We intend to maximise the opportunities for British companies.

It is also good news for our domestic and business customers who want us to deliver clean, secure and affordable energy.

We are progressing EDF’s plans to build four new EPR nuclear reactors in the UK by 2025. Together we have the expertise, financial capacity, suitable sites and determination to deliver these, with the first operational by the end of 2017.

EDF Energy Managing Director of Nuclear New Build Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson said:

At EDF Energy we are expecting to tender about 150 contracts worth many billions of pounds. We expect to have several thousand people working onsite during the construction phase.

UK companies that gain current nuclear experience will be in on the ground floor of a global nuclear renaissance that is only just beginning. Their experience will be in demand worldwide.

A total commitment to safety and quality assurance is the bedrock on which our industry is based. This will be the crucial factor in deciding every contract in the supply chain.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt said:

I’m excited about the next generation of nuclear power, quite simply, because we need secure, low carbon, and reliable power in the UK. I applaud the UK nuclear supply chain whose vision and ingenuity will generate hi-tech skills, real investment and thousands of low carbon jobs in the UK as they take advantage of the massive financial and economic opportunities the global nuclear market brings.