16th Jun 2006 10:34
Scottish & Southern Energy PLC16 June 2006 SSE COMMISSIONING OF NEW FACILITY TO 'CO-FIRE' BIOMASS AT FIDDLER'S FERRY POWERSTATION The Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food andRural Affairs, today formally commissioned the new facility to 'co-fire' fuelsfrom renewable sources at the Fiddler's Ferry power station of Scottish andSouthern Energy plc ("SSE"). Over the past 18 months, SSE has invested over £10 million in the deployment of'direct injection' burners at Fiddler's Ferry in Cheshire. These burners enablethe station's main fuel, coal, and biomass to be 'co-fired' more efficientlyand, therefore, increase the amount of biomass that can be used to generateelectricity at the power station to 30% (by weight) of the total fuel requiredfor two of the four units at the station. They also enable SSE to generate electricity from a more diverse range ofbiofuels including olive pellets, palm kernel expellers, citrus pulp pellets andwood. The installation of the new burners is expected to lead to the stationgenerating around 750GWh per year of electricity qualifying for RenewablesObligation Certificates - around double that generated at the station in 2005/06. During his visit to the power station Mr Milliband said: "I look forward tohearing about the innovative work being done here at Fiddler's Ferry. Energycompanies have an important role to play in driving down the UK's emissions aswe move to a low carbon economy." Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said: "Along with our hydro assets and ourportfolio of wind farms, the deployment of new direct injection burners at ourcoal-fired stations confirms SSE's position as the largest generator ofelectricity from renewable sources in the UK. It also reinforces the value ofour coal assets in SSE's generation portfolio." Enquiries to: Scottish and Southern Energy Alan Young, Director of Corporate Communications 0870 900 0410 Denis Kerby, Investor and Media Relations Manager 0870 900 0410 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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