The company invested EUR125m to convert the existing coal-fired unit at the power station into a 100% biomass unit, making it the largest conversion of this kind.
The new plant, which has an output of 180MW, generates a volume of electricity every year that is equivalent to the annual consumption of 320,000 families and will reduce CO2 emissions by 1.2 million tonnes annually.
The plant will receive one-third of the supply of wood pellets for its unit from the Pacific BioEnergy production facility in Canada, with whom Electrabel has signed a long-term contract for 225,000 tons of biomass per year.
The plant is jointly owned by Electrabel with 73% stake and Ackermans & van Haaren with the remaining 27% stake.
Electrabel general manager Sophie Dutordoir said that the project is in line with the firms strategy to develop diversified facilities and is in line with the commitments that the Group has pursued in renewable energy.
