E.ON's Blackburn Meadows biomass plant generates electricity

E.ON UK plc has announced that its Blackburn Meadows biomass facility in Sheffield, England, generated electricity and synchronized with the local distribution network for the first time on June 24.

Blackburn Meadows is now the third biomass plant in E.ON UK's generation portfolio and can provide enough energy to power around 40,000 homes. E.ON's £120 million ($204.36 million) investment in Blackburn Meadows has increased the energy company's mix of generation assets, helping to ensure future security of supply for the U.K.

The 30 MW renewable energy plant will convert locally sourced recycled waste wood into electricity, helping to reduce the impact energy generation has on the environment. The plant will displace the emissions of around 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year—the equivalent of taking more than 20,000 cars off the U.K.'s roads—by burning carbon neutral fuel in place of traditional fossil fuels like coal and gas.

Work commenced on Blackburn Meadows in 2011 and since then, around 3,400 people have been involved in the construction process, including local contractors, helping to bring new jobs and investment to the area.

Luke Ellis, E.ON's Blackburn Meadows project manager, said, "After several years of hard work by the project team and our contractors it is a great feeling to be finally generating power.

"The next and final stage of the project is the reliability and performance testing phase which is due to be completed this summer."

Blackburn Meadows will also supply hot water to a new £20 million low-carbon district heating network, which is due to be completed in early 2015, and will supply heat directly to homes and businesses in the area.