BWSC awards two turbine supply contracts to Alstom for UK biomass projects

Alstom has won dual contracts for Geared Reaction steam turbines (GRT) from Denmark based energy firm Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSC), which will be installed at two biomass projects in the UK.

The two orders are for the facilities located in Widnes, Merseyside and East Anglia.

The first order for a 23MW GRT is for the Widnes facility, which is being developed by BWSC in co-ordination with logistics firm Stobart Group.

The combined heat and power (CHP) biomass facility will be fuelled by waste wood, and supply heat for Stobart’s adjacent wood-drying unit.

The Widnes facility is expected to meet power requirements of 35,000 households, when operational by 2016.

The second 50MW GRT delivery contract is for the Snetterton Biomass Plant in East Anglia, which is expected start commercial operations by Spring 2017.

Energy crops, including straw, cereals and oilseed rape will be used as fuel for the facility, which is expected to meet power demands of 68,000 UK homes.

BWSC had co-ordinated with Alstom for two other projects in 2013 and 2014 as well, for the Lisahally CHP biomass plant in Northern Ireland and the Brigg renewable energy plant in Lincolnshire, respectively.

Alstom VP of Industrial Steam Turbines Daniel Wahler said: "Alstom is delighted to be working with BWSC in the UK once again, having already built a close working relationship with them on the Lisahally and Brigg projects."