Biomass in UK grows.  A new 38MW straw-fired biomass plant has started operations. The area has potential for energy crops and straw bales uses. 

Glennmont Partners, the leading investment manager dedicated to clean energy in Europe, has commenced operation of the 38MW Sleaford straw-fired renewable energy plant.

The plant was built by a consortium of Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S and Burmeister and Wain Energy A/S. Glennmont purchased 100% of the equity in the project in December 2011, and financed the construction through a debt package provided by NIBC Bank NV, RBS, Siemens Bank GmbH and Unicredit Bank AG.

Sleaford will generate enough electricity to power 65,000 homes as well as providing free heat to local sports clubs and community facilities. It will create and support jobs in local agriculture and has been built to perform to the highest environmental standards.

Several energy crops such as some perennial grasses different from Miscanthus are viable options to reduce feedstock costs compared to straw biomass baling for this plant

Glennmont Partners continues to develop a diversified portfolio of renewable projects across Europe and across technologies aimed at delivering robust and sustainable returns for its investors. Currently managing a portfolio of more than 300MW of biomass, wind and solar power in France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and the UK, Glennmont is ready to grow its portfolio with early investments from its second fund.

Joost Bergsma, Managing Partner of Glennmont, said: “Sleaford is a landmark deal not only for Glennmont but for the UK biomass industry as a whole. Glennmont has committed itself to leading the way for institutional investors to realise exceptional value from the renewable energy market, and Sleaford is an excellent example of this.”

Energy crops in the area might offer cheaper biomass and more profits to farmers supplying bales if they rotate monocultures with perennials.