The multi-million pound project will include the construction of an onsite biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant to supply process heat and electricity to the new wood pellet factory. In what is described as a UK first, wood pelleting and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power turbine technologies are being brought together by low carbon energy specialist Land Energy
The new facility is being built on the site of a former textile factory and once completed will generate enough wood pellets to provide sufficient heat energy for up to 15,000 homes. The timber used in the production process will be supplied from Scottish commercial forestry.
Lagan Õ¥Ö¼§ will undertake all the civil, structural and building works required to adapt the site including the conversion of three existing buildings which are being re-used as part of the new processing plant.
Work will be delivered in two phases beginning in early July with completion due in March 2012.
Wood fired CHP plants using ORC technology convert up to 90% of the energy input into useful heat and power while achieving a net cut in CO2 emissions (this includes harvesting and transport of the wood) of more than 95% when compared to similar plants burning oil, gas or coal.
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