In 2007, we completed construction of one of the UK's largest dedicated biomass power stations - Steven's Croft, near Lockerbie, Scotland. This £90m power station is the latest addition to our renewables portfolio and plays a fundamental part in tackling climate change.
The 44 megawatt (MW) station can produce enough renewable electricity for around 70,000 homes and will displace the emissions of around 140,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

So how does it work?
Burning biomass is often called 'carbon neutral'. This means that the carbon released into the atmosphere when the material is burnt is equivalent to the amount absorbed by the plant during its growth cycle.

Over 480,000 tonnes of fuel is needed to power the station every year. The fuel is a blend of the following:

• 60% sawmill co-products and small round wood pellets
• 20% willow
• 20% recycled fibre (from wood product manufacture)

This means that the power station will make a significant contribution to supporting forestry and saw milling operations in the area, as well as presenting a unique opportunity to the farming community, making the site a positive contributor to the local economy.

In December 2007, the site scooped the top prize at the Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards by winning the best Renewable Project Award, which is a testament to its environmental credentials.

The power station was officially opened in March 2008 by the Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond MP MSP, First Minister of Scotland. During his speech the First Minister of Scotland said "It is fantastic to have a biomass plant of this scale here in Scotland, it will more than double Scotland's biomass electricity generating capacity from 39 to 83 megawatts. It is both a showcase for the role biomass will play in our energy future and a real boost to the local economy."