Forth Energy pulls out of £1.1bn biomass projects

An energy company confirmed it has shelved plans to develop three major biomass projects worth £1.1 billion in Scotland. Forth Energy said it won’t be continuing with the renewable energy […]

An energy company confirmed it has shelved plans to develop three major biomass projects worth £1.1 billion in Scotland.

Forth Energy said it won’t be continuing with the renewable energy projects in Grangemouth and Rosyth but is looking for new backers for the schemes. The plans for a plant in Dundee however have been withdrawn altogether.

The projects were part of a joint venture with SSE that would have created a total capacity of 300MW of electricity and 260MW of heat as well as up to 500 jobs during the construction phase.

Last week however SSE announced it was reducing investments in renewable energy, especially offshore wind as part of its process to fund an energy price freeze.

Forth Energy said, a joint venture between SSE Ltd and Forth Ports, said in a statement: “Both projects have gained consent from the Scottish Government and Forth Energy is investigating options to attract other developers to take the projects forward. Forth Energy has withdrawn its application for the proposed plant at the Port of Dundee following an objection from Dundee City Council.”

The news was welcomed by campaigners in Dundee, who had put pressure on the local authority to reject the project amid fears about its green credentials.

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