The largest dedicated straw-fired biomass plant in the UK was opened at the end of May. Brigg Renewable Energy Plant will generate 40MW of electricity every hour, enough to supply 75,000 homes and save more than 250,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.
The plant is owned by BWSC North Lincs Ltd (BNLL), a joint venture between PensionDanmark, Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC) and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). The £162 million investment is based on biomass energy technology supplied by BWSC under a turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction contract. BWSC is responsible for operation and maintenance of the plant under a 15‐year operation and maintenance agreement.
Alongside the project launch was the announcement of an initial three‐year Community Benefit Fund which will contribute £50,000 a year in grants to the local community.
Torben Möger Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, PensionDanmark, said: “We are very pleased with the good cooperation with CIP and BWSC. With the joint venture, we have found a model that provides PensionDanmark with a stable return and limited risks. At the same time, we are helping to increase Danish energy technology exports. We therefore see strong potential in these types of partnerships.”
Anders Heine Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of BWSC, commented: “We have worked closely with the North Lincolnshire Council and many other statutory agencies, and it is the joint effort of all parties involved in the project which have resulted in the project being delivered ahead of time and within budget. I would also like to thank all local residents especially in Scawby and Scawby Brook for their support during the construction phase, and we look forward to continuing the good relationship with them through the operational phase.”
Jakob Baruël Poulsen, Managing Partner of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, added: “We are delighted to have formally opened our power plant. This has been achieved with great success thanks to our partners, investors and local stakeholders. Thanks must also go to the UK Government who have provided the stable regulatory framework that has enabled investments into renewable energy infrastructure such as the Brigg Renewable Energy Plant”.
The Mayor of North Lincolnshire, Cllr. Trevor Foster also expressed his delight that such high calibre European companies were investing in the UK and in North Lincolnshire in particular. “The announcement of the Brigg Community Benefit Fund reinforces the commitment to the local area, and we look forward to working with them for many years to come,” he summarised.
For further information on the project, please contact:
Ulrikke Ekelund, PensionDanmark, phone: +45 2019 9238 or email: [email protected], webpage: www.pension.dk
Mette Mulipola, BWSC, phone: +45 4810 2302 or email: [email protected], webpage: www.bwsc.com
Julie Trangbæk, CIP, phone: +45 7070 5151 or email: [email protected], webpage: www.cip.dk
