Planning consent has been granted for a combined heat and power biomass plant at the Port of Grangemouth.

The plant is expected to generate up to 120MW of renewable electricity, which can power around 130,000 homes. It will also supply local businesses and industry with up to 200 megawatts thermal (MWth) of renewable heat.

Up to 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with 70 permanent jobs being created.

The consent for the plant includes conditions to ensure the plant burns fuel from sustainable and responsible sources, to control the appearance of the development, to protect the environment and air quality and to keep the local community informed about the progress of the development. There is also a condition for a Domestic Virgin Wood Biomass Fuel Supply Strategy to ensure appropriate management of any use by the generating station of domestic virgin wood biomass.

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Developers Forth Energy Ltd applied to the Scottish Government for consent to construct and operate the Port of Grangemouth biomass renewable energy plant in September 2010, and supplied supplementary environmental information in January 2012. A Public Local Inquiry was held in May and June later that year, with the Reporter recommending consent should be granted to the project, subject to conditions. The approval was granted by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

(JP)