Gdf Suez signs two 15-year PPAs for biomass projects in UK

GDF Suez Energy UK has signed two 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to buy power from biomass power plants in the UK.

Under the first agreement, signed with BWSC East Anglia and Templeborough Biomass Power Plant, GDF Suez will acquire output from the energy-from-waste facilities in UK.

GDF Suez will purchase electricity generated by the 44.2MW Snetterton biomass plant in Norfolk which primarily uses burning straw as fuel.

Backed by 100% funding from Copenhagen Infrastructure (CI) and Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC), the BWSC East Anglia-operated renewable plant is likely to enter service in late 2016.

GDF Suez signed an agreement with Templeborough Biomass Power Plant, which is wholly owned and funded by Copenhagen Infrastructure (CI), to purchase all output from the 39.3MW Templeborough biomass power plant which is located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Planned to be commissioned in March 2017, the plant uses waste wood to generate 315GWh of electricity each year.

GDF SUEZ Energy UK local portfolio management head Paul Roberts said: "These new agreements are the first PPAs we have secured for biomass plants, having previously focused on wind power and energy-from-waste technologies.

"It demonstrates the flexibility of our PPAs, which present an attractive and secure proposition for any type of renewable energy plant."

CI senior partner Rúni Bro Róin said: "We’re pleased to have found the basis for cooperation with a strong and reputable partner like GDF SUEZ, which will be the sole purchaser of energy from both Snetterton and Templeborough."