Firm blames lack of certainty around energy policy and the government鈥檚 preference for co-firing and coal conversion power plants

economics

Centrica Energy has scrapped plans to develop two biomass power stations, blaming the lack of certainty around energy policy and the government鈥檚 preference for co-firing and coal conversion power plants.

The firm said it would not be proceeding with planning applications to develop dedicated biomass power stations at Roosecote in Barrow-in-Furness and at Glanford Brigg in North Lincolnshire. 

The firm had proposed to build a new 80MW biomass power station on the site of its existing Roosecote gas-fired power station, and a 137MW biomass power station adjacent to its existing gas-fired power station at Brigg.  

The company said: 鈥淲hile the government has declared its support for biomass as part of the UK鈥檚 future energy mix, recent clarification on the regulatory framework relating to dedicated biomass plants indicates a preference for co-firing and coal conversion to biomass.

鈥淭his includes a consultation on a cap on dedicated biomass ROCs, a consultation on greenhouse gas limits on the biomass supply chain not being certain for 20 years, and the likely exclusion of dedicated biomass projects from the new capacity mechanism.鈥�

The firm also said it would be withdrawing the existing gas-fired power station at Roosecote from service as it considered options for the plant, including permanent closure, the sale of the asset or redevelopment. 

It said the existing gas-fired power station in Brigg would continue to operate.

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