Natural Power secures biomass power contract in Ireland
April 30, 2013
BY Natural Power
International renewable energy consultancy Natural Power has this month been awarded its first biomass contract in Ireland. The contract will see Natural Power provide owners engineer services for Biotricity Ltd. on the company's Rhode Biomass Plant in County Offaly, Ireland.
The 16.3 MWe Rhode Biomass Plant is planned to be fuelled by straw and willow grown by Irish farmers, and will be designed to a high-efficiency combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plant, in accordance with the requirements of the REFIT scheme. A separate timber processing facility will be constructed adjacent to the power plant and will consume heat from the biomass CHP plant. The facility is expected to generate enough energy to meet the requirements of 5,500 homes and will displace the equivalent of 66,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.
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Natural Power will perform the role of owner’s engineer during the detailed design, procurement and construction of the complete plant, which is expected to last for a period of approximately two years.
“As we grow our business in line with the rapidly expanding biomass market, this significant contract win is testament to the high level of technical expertise Natural Power can bring to clients,” said Cris Sagar, senior manager of biomass services at Natural Power.
Natural Power opened their Irish office in Sandyford, Dublin, earlier this year following more than 15 years of consulting work in the region. “We are delighted that after opening our Irish office in March, we have already secured this great deal with Biotricity,” said Marc Lamphiere, senior project manager in Ireland. “It is great to work on a local project which will help secure Ireland’s sustainable energy future.”
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“Biotricity are delighted to be constructing this new €80m biomass plant in Co. Offaly which will create over 265 jobs for the local community and also help Ireland achieve its renewable energy targets,” said Declan Kennedy, Biotricity managing director. “This is a significant Irish success story: of our Capex of €80 million, approx 80 percent, or €64 million is going to Irish Engineering companies. During the operation of the plant in excess of €11 million per annum will be spent on fuel stocks and salaries. This figure will increase in line with inflation and has to be seen as a significant boost for the rural economy. We are delighted that Natural Power are at the helm of this project, with their new local base in Ireland and in house experience and service offerings within the sector.”
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