Novec's 50MW biomass plant to begin trial run

A $180 million (€135 million) 49.9MW biomass-fired power plant, developed by Novec and its partner Novi Energy, will soon commence its first trial run.

Construction work on the Halifax County, Virginia-based plant, which is being carried out by Fagen, is almost complete and less than 100 construction workers remained on the site last week.

The new facility will burn woodchips made primarily from waste materials collected from the forest floors as there is an abundance of this material within a 75-mile radius of the plant.

The trial run we see the facility synchronised to the grid and begin producing power. Once it starts full operations, the plant will operate 24 hours a day.

Funding for the project is a combination of a $90 million loan from the US Department of Agriculture, equity funds and state and federal grants.

The plant's opening ceremony is expected to take place in November. It will serve Novec's customer-owners.