The largest biomass electricity power station in Europe is to be closed, its owners have announced.
Tilbury Power Station will close this October with the loss of 220 jobs after RWN npower decided not to progress with converting the former coal powered station into a biomass plant.
In 2008, the decision was made to opt out the coal powered plant from the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive, meaning that the plant would shut after 20,000 hours of operation or by the end of 2015.
However, in 2010 RWE npower decided to trial conversion of the plant for it to become the largest biomass station in the world using sustainable biomass including waste wood and oil and generating 750MW of electricity.
While RWE npower says that the project has been a success commercially and technically, it has decided to halt the project while feasibility options are assessed and reviewed.
RWE Genereation chief technical officer Roger Miesen said: “It is with regret that we are announcing the decision to halt the Tilbury Biomass project.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. Tilbury remains a good site for future power generation. RWE still believes that biomass has a role to play in future power generation and will continue to progress options at strategic sites.”
