Winning combination
The ribbon has been cut on RWE Innogy’s Markinch biomass CHP plant in
Glenrothes, Fife – the UK’s largest such installation
Opened by Scottish minister for tourism, energy and tourism Fergus
Ewing, the plant replaces the former 1950s coal and gas-fired CHP
power station on the site of paper and board manufacturer Tullis
Russell.
The new facility is already supplying all of Tullis Russell’s
electricity and steam requirements, and is set to reduce C02
emissions by 250,000 tonnes per annum.
As a large addition to the Scottish government’s aim for a
more sustainable future, the project was part financed with an
£8.1m Regional Selective Assistance grant. Forestry Commission
Scotland has secured a long term contract to supply 750,000 tonnes
of timber to the plant over the next 10 years.
Paul Coffey, COO at RWE Innogy, said: “RWE has taken
biomass combined heat and power technology in the UK to the
Sound investment: Fergus Ewing MSP (right) opens the UK’s largest
next level. The Markinch plant is providing Tullis Russell with a
biomass CHP plant in Fife, part financed by a £8.1m Scottish government
state-of-the-art low carbon power source, and exporting enough
grant
energy into the local network to power around 45,000 homes.
“With a multi-million pound investment and over 2.6 million man hours spent constructing the plant, we’re delighted it is fully
operational and has surpassed efficiency targets for energy production and emissions.”
Chris Parr, chief executive of Tullis Russell Group, added: “This has been a major project for Fife and for our business, the importance of
which cannot be overstated. The plant delivers a modern, economical and sustainable source of renewable energy for Tullis Russell, reduces
our carbon emissions by 72 percent and helps safeguard the future of 500 jobs at our Markinch base.”
Going bananas for PV
The shipping company responsible for handling 95 percent of the UK’s banana
imports is now being powered by a 1.16MW rooftop array installed by Evo
Energy
MMD Shipping Services, which imports more than half a million tonnes of produce each year, now boasts a 4,500 panel array on its
vegetable import facility in Portsmouth.
The 7,000 sq m system is generating 3,000kWh per day on average, and could save up to 600 tonnes of C02 per annum.
Working without scaffolding 15 metres above ground, Evo Energy’s installation team completed the work within six weeks without
disrupting MMD’s operations.
Evo Energy project manager, James Sutton, said: “Because of the nature
of the building’s use, with dozens of forklifts and vehicles moving in and out,
it would have been impossible to use scaffolding here. Planning in downtime
simply wasn’t an option for a company like MMD.
“So drawing on our experience of delivering commercial projects for
customers working in busy, fast-paced industries, we devised a solution that
would get the panels up-and-running quickly with minimal disruption to their
day-to-day operations.”
John Clink, technical and facilities manager at MMD, added: “The
installation process was very good indeed. I’ve been impressed with Evo
Energy’s performance throughout and the people working for them did their jobs
brilliantly.
“They didn’t interrupt our business, they stayed out of the way and their
Rich pickings: Now powered by solar, MMD imports 95
health
and safety practices were spot on. I would recommend them to any
percent of the UK’s bananas via its facility at Portsmouth
International Port
other company considering solar for their business to cut costs and reduce their
carbon emissions.”
36 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk