UK's largest biomass plant approaches completion

Work on the £24million green energy plant in Invergordon has entered the final stages of development and is due to be completed and fully operational by December 2009.

Northern Ireland-based company Balcas, one of the UK’s largest wood products suppliers, appointed Barr as the principal contractor for the biomass plant in 2008. The plant, which is set to be the largest of its kind in the UK, is situated on the former Alcan smelter site at the Cromarty Industrial Park.

Balcas has project managed the installation of the plant and recruited specialist help and labour from contractors from six European countries.

The plant will provide a major boost for the local economy and will produce 100,000 tonnes of brites, the Balcas branded wood pellet, every year. The factory will be self-sufficient in electricity and once up and running, will feed power into the national grid.

The development consists of two large industrial units which house the pelleting plant, and a fully automated log yard.

Barr project manager, Alistair Crockett, said: “This is a complex project and has been challenging throughout, both from a construction point of view and from a technical and managerial perspective. The safety of contractors on site is, of course, our highest priority. So with 80% of on-site operatives coming from European contractors, we were keen to make sure all necessary checks and procedures were in place.

“Happily, the work has progressed well, without any lost time incidents having occurred. This is a rewarding piece of work for Barr and we are pleased to have worked on a project which will generate jobs for local people and has brought investment into the community.”

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