The biomass power plant, Tyne Renewable Energy Plant, will use biomass feedstock in the form of woodchip from “certified sustainable forestry projects developed by MGT Power team and partners in North and South America and the Baltic States”, and is targeted to come into commercial operation in 2014.

The biomass plant will use around 2.4m tonnes of woodchips per annum and will operate at baseload – 24 hours a day, all year round.

Chris Moore, Director of MGT Power says: “With the Government committed to more renewable electricity generation over the next decade, our Tyne biomass project along with our consented scheme at Teesport will make a significant contribution to the Government’s targets. Large scale biomass projects can operate at baseload and each scheme will produce in one year as much green electricity as the largest 1000 MW windfarm project.”

North Tyneside Mayor, Linda Arkley, adds: “Tyne REP woulds bring substantial benefits to the borough and the wider region, representing an investment of over £400 million, the creation of hundreds of construction jobs, future permanent on-site jobs, 300–400 indirect jobs and an annual spend of £30m in the local economy.