UK's largest wood-fired power station opens in Scotland

The largest wood-fired power station in the UK has been opened near Lockerbie in a step towards biomass power generation targets set for 2050.

The Steven’s Croft Power Station is expected to save up to 140,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually whilst providing 300 new jobs in the agriculture sector.

The power station was formally opened by First Minister Alex Salmond this month.

He said: "Today we put Lockerbie on Scotland's renewable energy map, as the home of the UK's largest wood-fired power station. At a stroke, Steven's Croft more than doubles Scotland's biomass electricity generating capacity from 39 to 83 megawatts.

"The power plant will produce enough green energy, from the surrounding forests, to supply up to 70,000 homes - more than 17 times the population of Lockerbie.

"What's more, this plant will give a significant boost to the local economy - 40 jobs here on site and a further 300 jobs that it will support in local forestry, saw-milling and agriculture industries.”

The plant works by drying out and burning forest fuel which is made up of a mixture of forestry residue and specially grown willow.

Fuel materials will be sourced within a 60 mile radius of the plant, ensuring factors relating to transportation do not seriously interfere with carbon emission.

Mr Salmond said: "It is proof that not only can we generate power from materials previously seen as waste; we can also create good quality jobs and improve the sustainable management of our forests.”

The power station is a 44MW biomass plant and was built at a capital cost of £90 million by E.ON UK, with a lottery fund grant of £18 million.

Frank Mastiaux, Chief Executive of E.ON Climate & Renewables said: "We're delighted that the First Minister could be here today, because Steven's Croft is a pioneering project that offers huge benefits to the local community as well as to the battle against climate change.

"We need a mix of energy sources such as biomass if we're going to succeed in ensuring a secure supply of electricity to keep the lights on while reducing carbon emissions.

“That's why we're taking the lead and building projects like Steven's Croft, which represents part of a billion pound investment that we're making in the development of renewable energy in the UK over the next five years."

Steven’s Croft Power Station was voted Best Renewable Project at the Scottish Green Energy Awards last year.