Straw power to fuel UK biomass expansion

Renewable energy developer Eco2 yesterday secured planning permission for its proposed £80m straw-powered biomass power plant in Lincolnshire, in a move the company hopes will help spark a wave of new straw-powered plants.

The 40MW plant at Sleaford in Lincolnshire is expected to generate enough power for a quarter of all households in the county and will be fuelled by 240,000 tonnes of straw, all sourced from within a 30-mile radius of the plant.

The proposals had been rejected once by the local planning committee, but it was granted approval last night in a 24-to-nine vote after Eco2 moved to lower the roof line of the plant, limiting its visual intrusiveness.

David Williams, chief executive of Eco2, said the Sleaford plant highlighted the significant role straw can play as a renewable fuel source.

"All the straw will come from a 30-mile radius, meaning limited transport emissions, and it doesn't contribute to the food-fuel debate as the wheat has already been harvested," he explained, adding that the straw would otherwise have been ploughed back into the soil, acting as a low-grade fertiliser, but also contributing to methane emissions.

According to Eco2, straw could provide a plentiful supply of biomass and support a large expansion of medium-scale 40-60MW power plants across the country.

"Between four million and 13 million tonnes of straw a year is just ploughed back into the soil," said Williams. "The Sleaford plant will only use a quarter of the straw available within a 30-mile radius, so there is huge potential for further plants."