Port of Antwerp signs deal with Solvay to investigate biomass potential

The Port of Antwerp and chemical company Solvay have signed an agreement to carry out a feasibility study on the potential to build a biomass power station in the port.

Output at the proposed plant would be large, between 200-400MW, or enough to power between 500,000 and 1 million homes.

Under the agreement the two companies will draw up the outlines of the project, hoping to gain investment from a partner that the companies have not yet found.

The project will need to be approved by the Flemish government and will only receive approval if it meets the EU sustainability requirements. After this the capacity and the amount of investment needed for the project to get off the ground will be decided.