Barrow Port Biomass Power Plant Moves Ahead

by Milos Bezanov

Construction of a new biomass power plant at Cavendish Dock Road is underway, according to a local press release

The project gained planning permission four years ago, but since then, technological advances have expanded the biomass power plant’s energy output from 9 to 10mw, incorporation of a larger, 86,000 tonne feedstock limit and a 38.5 metre chimney has also taken place.

Located near Anchor Basin at Barrow Port, the plant, construction for which is set to start before Christmas, will power BAE Systems Strategic Bulk Storage building, to be built on Barrow Waterfront Business Park to support the successor submarine programme.

Biomass concerns

Although set to benefit BAE Systems and local communities, concerns over road congestion remain at the forefront; “ We are talking about 40 tonne wagons using the most congested roads in Barrow….there is already a problem with congestion in the area…we are supposed to be looking after our residents here…. the movement of wood fuel to the site along the town’s roads caused contention among the authority’s planning bosses who called for a larger volume to be shipped to the site by sea instead” says Barrow representative Councillor Kevin Hamilton.

Councillor Ernie Wilson, CCC planning member, advises the same “this is an ideal opportunity to bring the bulk of the material via sea…it doesn’t make sense to bring it by road [as doing so would create]..an extremely difficult situation.”

However, Barrow Borough Council rejected the issue on the grounds of it’s negative impact on the Marina Village development plans, but Councillor Allan Clark, speaking at the CCC development control meeting, argued Sunrise Renewables, the current applicant for the project, to consider otherwise; “we need to persuade people to use Barrow port and I see nothing wrong with that…we are asking for common sense to prevail”