More than 100 jobs could be lost if a Norfolk biomass plant that runs on poultry litter is forced to close following the expiry of its government support scheme, according to reporting by the Eastern Daily Press.
Thetford Power Station, operated by Melton Renewable Energy on the edge of Thetford Forest, burns chicken litter — including droppings and feathers — to generate electricity, with the resulting ash sold as fertiliser. The plant has operated since 1999 and currently processes around 370,000 tonnes of poultry litter annually.
The facility's future is in doubt because its Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) support expires in March 2027 and no successor scheme has yet been confirmed. South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy, who has been pushing for clarity on the plant's future for over a year, recently raised the issue again in Parliament and called on ministers to meet with him directly.
Jermy warned that closure would have consequences well beyond job losses, arguing that without the plant's capacity to process poultry waste, more than half a million tonnes of litter could end up spread onto land — potentially undermining efforts to clean up rivers, lakes and waterways across the eastern region.
Environment minister Mary Creagh confirmed she would meet with Jermy and said the government was working on successor arrangements to the Green Gas Scheme.
Eddie Wilkinson, chief executive of Melton Renewable Energy, described the station as a crucial contributor to the local economy, supporting skilled employment, local supply chains and sustainable waste processing.
Over 100 jobs at risk as Norfolk biomass plant faces closure
