The capital of Ukraine is getting its first biomass power plant.

Renewable company DNC Energy has received funding through a bond programme to buil the facility in Kiev.

It will process woodchips, cornstover, sunflower and wheat straw to produce energy.

The facility is expected to have a capacity of 25MW and is estimated to be completed by November 2016.

The company will sell the energy via the “green tariff”, a law introduced in 2009 to boost investment in the sector in Ukraine.

It claims western European countries are investing in renewable and biofuel projects but the current financial situation in Ukraine makes it difficult to invest large amounts of state funds in the sector.

David Neisingh, DNC Energy President said: “Lighting the world with green biomass power is a natural solution for energy independence. Clean renewable biomass power is carbon neutral and capable of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving forest health and reducing the risk of forest fires. In rural communities around the world biomass energy generates electricity and creates jobs.”

Ukraine currently has six burning biomass plants and seven biogas anaerobic digestion systems.