The ARBRE project: progress achieved

Abstract This paper will discuss the progress achieved in the ARBRE project, a joint venture that includes Yorkshire Water Projects of the United Kingdom and Termiska Processer AB of Sweden. The project will be fuelled by a mix of wood from forestry residues and from short rotation coppices, some of which will be organically fertilised with digested sewage sludges. A Biomass Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (BIGCC) electricity generation plant will be constructed at Eggborough, North Yorkshire, which will provide gas to a gas turbine and steam turbine generation system, producing 10 MW and exporting 8 MW of electricity. It has been included in the 1993 tranche of the UKs Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) and has gained financial support from the European Commission’s THERMIE programme as a targeted BIGCC project. The following aspects will be described in the paper: •technical design; •award of planning permission, including environmental issues and benefits; •fuel supplies; •short rotation coppice establishment; •project timescales.