Member Article

Eggborough power station plans £500 million biomass conversion

Eggborough power station in North Yorkshire has announced plans to modernise, creating 800 more jobs with the £500 million conversion to biomass.

Eggborough is one of the largest coal-burning facilities in the UK and once converted could meet 10 % of the UK’s target to produce a third of electricity from renewables by the end of the decade.

The power station currently provides around 4% of total UK supply, enough electricity for some 2-3 million homes.

The conversion could provide potentially thousands more jobs across the region and the extended supply chain including rail, ports, logistics and engineering services.

It will bring hundreds of millions of pounds to the region and support an apprenticeship programme for a new generation of Eggborough workers.

Neil O’Hara, Chief Executive of Eggborough Power Limited said: “Everyone at Eggborough is very proud of our long history working alongside local communities and suppliers.”

“We are delighted to have achieved this milestone, and want to thank the Eggborough team and our contract partners, both past and present, for all of their efforts in achieving this great milestone.”

He went on to say: “Over the years we have worked in partnership with people across the region, providing power to the UK and jobs for the local economy.”

“We hope we’ll be here for many decades to come. This landmark has been reached as we embark on a new, sustainable future for Eggborough.”

“Our biomass conversion project plans to transform ageing infrastructure into a major renewable energy power house, extending the life of the facility, securing hundreds of existing jobs onsite and creating thousands more across the region.”

Eggborough this week celebrates reaching one million running hours, enough energy to power all homes in the UK for one year.

Construction on the station began in early 1962, with generation commencing on 8th February 1967.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .