Dutch utility Eneco lays foundation stone for largest Benelux bioenergy plant, which will convert 300,000 tons of woodchips/year into electricity when it goes online in 2013

Audrey Dixon

Audrey Dixon

ROTTERDAM , November 28, 2011 (press release) – Today, Eneco officially launched the construction of a 49.9 MegaWatt bioenergy plant in the Dutch municipality of Delfzijl. The plant, scheduled to be operational in 2013, will annually convert 300,000 tons of wood chips from recycled waste wood into green electricity. This equals the electricity consumption of approximately 120,000 households. The name of the plant, Eneco Bio Golden Raand, has been coined by local resident Frits Alma. Golden Raand refers to the region, the 'golden edge' of the province of Groningen, and is also referred to the provincial anthem.

Neighbour selects name

Local residents and stakeholders are closely involved in the construction of the plant. For example The Borgsweer Environment Sounding Board provided advice about the integration of the plant in the landscape. The result is a neutral grey building that blends in with the surroundings and is barely visible against the blue and grey of the sky and clouds. Eneco also asked local residents to come up with an appropriate name for the bioenergy plant. The name Eneco Bio Golden Raand was selected from the 42 names sent in by 31 different people. Frits Alma sent in the winning name: "Eneco builds its green plant in the region named 'Golden Raand' meaning the golden edge of the province of Groningen. A great initiative with a name that is also mentioned in the provincial anthem. That gives the people of Groningen a sense of pride. I very much appreciate that Eneco has given us the opportunity to suggest names for the plant and I am naturally thrilled that they have selected the name that I proposed."

High efficiency

Eneco has awarded the contract for the construction of the plant to the AMB consortium consisting of AREVA Renewables GmbH (Germany), Ballast Nedam Infra bv (Netherlands) and Metso Power Oy (Finland). Some 350 people will be involved in the construction. After completion, the plant will offer employment for 30 people. At 37%, the plant has a very high electrical efficiency. This is due to the relatively high pressure and temperature in the steam circuit, the use of sea water in the cooling system and the implementation of Fluidised Bed combustion technology. This technology uses a hot sand bed to ensure optimal combustion of the biomass.
300,000 tons of wood chips

The wood that is converted to electricity in the plant will arrive by ship, train and truck from the Netherlands and surrounding countries. Approximately 300 thousand tons are required each year, which equals about 150 ship loads. The wood-burning plant will lead to a reduction of 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year compared with electricity generated in a conventional plant.


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