Estover Energy proposes biomass CHP plant

Renewable energy company Estover Energy is to build a £65 million (€75.8 million) biomass-fired CHP plant in Kent, UK.

The proposed facility will generate 11MW of electricity and 8MW of heat from low-grade wood fuel. This biomass will be sourced solely from local forestry and woodland materials from within an 80-mile radius.

The plant will be built at Discovery Park, a science and technology park based in Sandwich, and will produce renewable heat and electricity for the 220-acre site. It will also supply renewable power to the national grid.

Estover Energy says it plans to submit a planning application for the CHP plant to Dover District Council in July and, if granted, work would begin on site in 2014.

Andrew Troup, development director at Estover Energy, says: 'Using the by-product from woodland management and harvesting to generate energy is a positive alternative to fossil fuels, and one that is supported by government and many environmental and rural campaigning groups.'