We operate one of the UK's largest dedicated biomass plants at Steven's Croft, near Lockerbie, which is capable of producing power for around 70,000 homes. Rated at 44MW, the award-winning scheme displaces approximately 140,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year by burning wood in place of traditional fuels like coal and gas.

We are also investigating further opportunities for biomass-fired plants in the UK.

What is biomass?

Biomass is any plant-derived organic material available on a renewable basis and is often termed as carbon neutral because the carbon released into the atmosphere when the material is burned is equivalent to the amount absorbed by the plant during its growth cycle.

This type of fuel can take many forms - from crops like willow that is specifically grown for use in power stations to by-products such as sawdust from local saw mills.

It is also possible to co-fire biomass alongside coal - something we already do at our power station in Kent.

The Carbon Neutral Cycle