Tullis Russell confident of biomass plant's green credentials
Fife paper firm Tullis Russell is a step closer to sourcing power from biomass, with work on a £200m generator under way at its Markinch base.
Chris Parr and Peter Wilson at the site of the new biomass plant, with representatives from Tullis Russell and RWE in the background.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 18.11.10
- Published online : 18.11.10 @ 12.21pm
Energy firm RWE npower renewables, which will build and run the new biomass plant, has taken over the site earmarked for the project.
With an output of 50MW, the plant will replace Tullis Russell's coal-fired power station and provide steam for paper-drying as well as electricity. It is expected to be in operation in late 2012.
The company claims the plant will reduce its carbon emissions by 250,000 tonnes and help safeguard its 540-strong workforce.
Proposals for biomass plants are popping up across Fife. Others include biomass boilers to provide energy to the new wing at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and a scheme to heat homes in Cardenden.
Meanwhile, Forth Energy has plans to build biomass plants at Rosyth, Dundee, Grangemouth and Leith.
The Dundee project has drawn thousands of objections, with residents near the harbour site raising concerns about the effect it would have on air quality.
Last month, biomass came under fire from wood panelling firms across Europe, who staged a walkout in protest at subsidies granted to such projects, which are driving up the price of raw materials-wood chippings produced as the by-products of timber processing.
Peter Wilson from RWE npower renewables said the plant would use wood chippings destined for landfill, where they would decay and give off methane — a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide for causing global warming. He said there would be minimal conflict with wood panelling companies.
"At the moment the material we're targeting either goes to landfill or is burned on site," he said. "RWE npower renewables has chosen technology that uses recycled wood, thus minimising the use of virgin wood."
Tullis Russell chief executive Chris Parr said, "Once the plant is up and running we are planning to use recycled wood as much as possible.
"This is an extremely positive development for Tullis Russell and helps to ensure a sustainable future for our business by enabling us to compete more effectively in what is a highly competitive market.
"It will also significantly reduce Tullis Russell's carbon footprint, making us a genuine low-carbon paper producer in the markets we serve."
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