Another Big Heat And Power Plant For Highland
16th November 2006
A PROPOSAL to create a £24million Combined Heat and Power plant at Invergordon has won wholehearted support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) with its board agreeing to a £5.5million contribution to the project.
Northern Ireland-based company Balcas Ltd plans to develop its operation on the former Alcan smelter site at the Cromarty Industrial Park.
Balcas Ltd is one of the largest suppliers of wood products in the UK and its new plant in Easter Ross will create 38 full-time jobs. Independent consultants reckon this will rise to 207 jobs for the wider area, increasing to 307 over Scotland as a whole. The firm already has a diverse range of forest product operations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Estonia.
The development will be among the largest biomass renewable energy plants in the UK, but will not require pylons or any other new grid infrastructure. It will reduce carbon emissions by 170,000 tonnes per year.
Wood supplies will include a high volume of lodgepole pine which will be combusted in the Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) and the emerging steam condensed to drive an electrical generator. This will feed power to the National Grid at the maximum level allowed by the connection infrastructure - 5MW.
The residual heat will be used in the manufacture of high-energy wood fuel pellets that will provide 48 MW of thermal energy, displacing 60 million litres of oil per year. At its plant in Northern Ireland Balcas is already the largest UK manufacturer of wood pellets that are marketed under the company's "brites" brand. Brites can be used in everything from large commercial plants to small domestic central heating boilers and stoves.
The HIE board of directors agreed unanimously to approve a £5.5m grant and equity contribution to the scheme which supports the Scottish Executive's target to have 18 per cent of Scotland's energy served from renewable sources by 2010.
Stuart Black, chief executive of HIE Inverness and East Highland said: "This substantial contribution indicates how much we value Balcas Ltd's decision to open their plant in Ross-shire. They have an excellent record in the industry employing over 600 people world-wide.
"Lodgepole pine was heavily planted in the Highlands during the 60s, 70s and 80s but meets a poor market so this presents an excellent purpose for its harvest."
"This is the kind of technologically advanced and environmentally prudent business that fits with the reputation of our region and I look forward to working with the firm over the coming months and years to grow their success in this emerging industry."
Managing Director of Balcas Ltd, Ernest Kidney said: "We are delighted by HIE's support that will enable us to bring the project to fruition in 2008. We look forward to introducing brites to the market in the Highlands. They will provide a new alternative heating fuel with price stability, and at a cost that is less than oil or gas".
Balcas Web site www.balcas.com
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will return to Norway to host the Scottish Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2025. The Scottish aquaculture supply chain is invited to register their interest to exhibit as part of the pavilion or join the wider Scottish delegation.
A young engineer working on Britain's deepest nuclear clean-up project has been recognised by the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Liam Gordon (27) won the Young Chemical Engineer of the Year award at the annual showcase event of the Aberdeen branch of IChemE, the professional body for chemical engineers in the UK.
Food and Drink TechHUB will provide financial and advice support to help businesses, including social and community enterprises, with commercial growth and net zero transition activities. Small to medium sized enterprises in the Highland Council area that operate in the food and drink sector and its supply chain are expected to benefit from a new programme of support launched his week.
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund launched on Thursday 26 September 2024. The three-year £2.7m fund was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A boating club in Unst, a former kirk in Whalsay and a community hall in Fetlar are among projects supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to generate income, provide vital services and create jobs in Shetland's outer isles. Facilities at the Unst Boating Club are being upgraded to become more energy efficient and accessible to visitors and local people.
Up to 50% match funding grants of between £25,000 and £75,000 to help companies accelerate their growth plans. Life sciences businesses in the Highlands and Islands that are looking to invest in capital growth projects will be able to apply for support through a new fund announced today (18 September).
The transformation at John O'Groats has attracted millions of pounds in investment through private, public and community-led initiatives. Monday 9 September 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of a masterplan that has helped to transform John O'Groats from ‘Carbuncle of the Year' to a thriving visitor attraction.
The chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL) has announced that she is retiring later this month. Susan Smith, who has held the top job at the popular mountain resort near Aviemore for the past five years, has told staff she will leave the company at the end of September.
Caithness-based engineering firm Envision Engineering & Design Ltd is investing in new technology that will help increase business turnover and productivity while cutting carbon emissions. The company has purchased a Leica Geosystems mobile 3D scanner after securing a £6,390 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the total cost of £21,300.
A £5.9m project to create a new whisky distillery within the former derelict Mill at Castletown in Caithness has secured a £250,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Dunnet Bay Distillers Limited (DBDL) is leading the project, which will create 13 jobs.
