Crucial phase completed at biomass facility

A bespoke biomass loading facility at the Port of Tyne is now well underway after the 1,200t steel frame for the project’s main structure was completed by Atlas Ward Structures.

The scheme as a whole will be the largest of its kind in the world and came about following an agreement between the Port of Tyne and Drax Power.

Under the agreement, the Port’s facility will have the provision to handle and store up to 1.4 million tonnes of biomass per annum.

The biomass from sustainable resources will be co-fired at the Drax Power Station in Selby. The Port of Tyne will be responsible for the unloading of vessels containing up to 70,000 tonnes of biomass, transfer to storage facilities and subsequent reloading to train for dispatch to Drax.

Engineering firm Spencer are acting as EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors at both ends of the project, constructing the rail loading and unloading facilities at the Port of Tyne and at Drax.