Long-awaited biomass order creates growth opportunities
Date: 08/08/2013BWSC, Danish power plant specialist, awarded GBP 94 million renewable energy plant contracts after four years of persistent efforts with Evermore Renewable Energy.
After four years of intensive sales efforts, the Danish power plant specialist Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC) has landed a new power plant order worth approximately GBP 55 million to build a 15.8 MW biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant for the client Evermore Renewable Energy (ERE) on a full turnkey basis in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
In addition to the construction of the plant, the order includes a 15-year operation and maintenance agreement worth approximately GBP 39 million.
“After four years of persistent efforts, we are proud to add yet another biomass project to our portfolio. Renewable energy is one of our high-priority business segments. This new project, alongside the giant order for a straw-fired biomass plant landed in December 2011, definitively demonstrates that the strategy for our renewable energy market leads to positive results,” Anders Heine Jensen, CEO in BWSC, explains.
The new biomass plant will be fuelled by recycled wood and is expected to be handed over to ERE for start-up of commercial operation during summer 2015.
From challenge to progress
Securing the new biomass project confirms BWSC’s strong belief in a green future. But the Danish power plant specialist also acknowledges the complexities of developing and constructing large energy projects.
”Developing and constructing energy projects is a very complex process which involves local authorities, government agencies and many specialists from different professions. Technical skills, high levels of cooperation and trust and, not least, a lot of patience are crucial factors for our business to achieve a successful project implementation,” Anders Heine Jensen states, whilst highlighting that the conversion to green energy is a long-term process with many pitfalls.
This also goes for the new biomass project. The identification of the right kind of fuel and amendments in the UK legal framework conditions for renewable energy are just some of the challenges, which BWSC, and other involved parties have been facing during the past four years.
Furthermore, BWSC and ERE, both co-owners of the project, have been in contact with several potential investors, before a financial approval could be obtained. In this respect, EKF (Export Credit Agency) has played a decisive role through their participation on the debt side in terms of risk cover and funding.