The “UK’s first” steam reheat biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant is being built.

J. Murphy & Sons Limited’s (Murphy) £138 million plant in Cramlington, Northumberland will generate sustainable power from virgin wood, forest residues and clean, recycled waste wood.

The biomass CHP plant uses innovative reheat technology to boost generation and efficiency.

It works by running the steam through a high pressure turbine, taking it back to the steam generator to get it hot again and then running it through a low pressure turbine.

Raising the temperature of steam that is going from a high to a low pressure turbine allows for greater output using the same amount of fuel, increasing overall efficiency by around 3% whilst saving fuel, according to Murphy.

The plant will have an output of 27.8 MW, generating 223GWh of renewable electricity. Carbon Dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 56,000 tonnes annually in comparison to gas-fired sites.

Murphy will now begin constructing the plant substation and compound, breaking ground this month for completion in 2017.

As well as supplying low carbon electricity to National Grid, the plant will also directly supply electricity and heat to two pharmaceutical companies.

Low-carbon generation and the role of alternative fuels will form part of the discussions at the Energy Live 2016 conference on November 3rd in London. Limited free tickets available for energy end users and university students.