Phase one of a new biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool has shipped off the first lot of wood pellets. This terminal will have been complete by July 2016. Moreover, the UK's most centrally located deep-water container terminal, Liverpool2, will be available on December 2015.
The United Kingdom is extending its green electricity production. That is why Drax Group, the largest single generator of renewable electricity in the country, supplying approximately three million homes with electricity, which also owns Drax Power Station, needs more energy sources.
In these circumstances, Peel Ports Group, which is situated in Liverpool, has taken a decision in June to build a new biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool. This project is estimated at £100 million.
Peel Ports Group has announced recently that phase one of the new-built terminal has been complete. The main goal this terminal is to receive ships, which deliver wood pellets from North America. These pellets are a by-product of the commercial forestry and saw-milling industry. United Kingdom purchases them in order to use as an alternative power source.
As it was mentioned before, the United Kingdom is reducing the use of carbon-based fuel according to the EU decarbonisation project. In this case, wood pellets are considered to replace coal. The new energy source utilization will give an opportunity to decrease CO2 release by 12 million tonnes a year.
Wood pellets will be delivered to Drax Power Station by railway. A specially constructed train with 25 wagons with carrying capability 1600 tonnes by each one will transport a freight to Shelby, where power station is located. This freight train is able to cover a distance of 99 miles in 35 minutes.
The biomass terminal will have been complete by July 2016. It will make a significantly contribution to economic growth and development of deep economic connection between different parts of the country.
Beyond that, Chief Executive Officer of Peel Ports Group, Mark Whitworth, states that this terminal construction will make it possible to create 47 new jobs. At the same time, construction of the facility and the supply chain will create approximately 300 new jobs.
According to the UK Government’s Northern Powerhouse document "Transport for the North", Liverpool plays crucial role in English freight transportation infrastructure. That is why the biomass terminal, which will be capable to receive up to 3 million tonnes of wood pellets and to store approximately 100,000 tonnes of this freight when finished, is being built in Liverpool. Moreover, this terminal in cooperation with rail traffic infrastructure will give an opportunity to provide the United Kingdom with reliable, affordable, low carbon energy.
In addition, Peel Ports Group is going to invest £300 million in order to create the UK's most centrally located deep-water container terminal in the same port. This terminal, known as Liverpool2, will set in operation on December 2015. It is necessary as approximately 90% of such terminals are situated in Southern ports of England at present. That is to say, this sector needs diversification. That is why it will be built in the North part of the country.
Graham Construction is building a new biomass terminal in Liverpool. Graham Construction is an organization, which supplies construction, asset management and project investment services for customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Executive Director at Graham Construction, Leo Martin underlines that this terminal building is based on experience of similar terminals construction on the east coast of the country.
