MGT Power is planning to set up a second 295 MW bioelectricity plant in Tyne to accompany its current project under construction in nearby Teesport

According to the plans the Tyne Renewable Energy Plant (TREP) will be located on industrial land 10km east of Newcastle city centre on the north bank of River Tyne. The proposed plant would burn about 2.4 million tonnes of wood a year obtained from certified-sustainable plants in North and South America and produce electricity continuously.

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A cost estimate has yet to be worked out for the plant but its 295 MW Tees plant will cost £500 million.

According to Chris Moore, director of MGT, large-scale biomass projects can operate at baseload and each scheme will produce as much green electricity a year as the largest 1,000 MW project with savings of upto 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

The project details have been set out by MGT in a scoping document circulated to a number of local and national organisations including North Tyneside Council, the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Environment Agency.

The document details the project’s rationale, the energy and planning policy framework and the technical studies. It also documents consultations that the company will undertake as part of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

MGT hopes to bring the plant on stream by 2014 subject to planning approval. When commissioned the plant will supply power to around 600,000 homes fro 2014.

The British government has undertaken development a huge offshore wind programme to generate electricity from wind to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 from 1990 levels. Wind farms, however, produce electricity only during the time wind is blowing.

The feedstock for the plant will be sourced from certified sustainable forestry projects in North and South America and the Baltic states. The company has developed the forests in association with its partners. The plan will use about 2.4 million tonnes of wood chips a year.

Meanwhile North Tyneside mayor has welcomed the plans for a biomass-based power generation project. Linda Arkley said proposal provides a much needed boost and demonstrates confidence in the North Tyneside Council’s commitment to deliver a thriving renewables sector.