Biomass power station plans given approval by councillors

When up and running, the electricity-generating plant at the port of Immingham, operated by Drax, will meet over 85 per cent of the region's 2020 green energy target.

As many as 850 workers will work on the construction of the 600m plant which will be run by a workforce of around 60, with 90 indirectly employed.

The company says the fuel for the 290MW plant will be derived from a wide variety of sources – but only from supply chains which comply with their sustainability policy. Between 1.4m and 2.5m tonnes of material will be needed per year, depending on the fuel type.

Crops like fast-growing miscanthus, a perennial grass which can grow up to 13ft a year, will be used, some sourced from local farmers.

Subject to Secretary of State approval, the project could begin generating electricity in 2015 and will be built on a 10-hectare greenfield site less than 1km from the port. There's no end user yet for the heat and steam it will produce but adjacent sites are being developed.

Coun Mark Kirk, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, which was a consultee in the process, said the development was further good news.

"Just last year the council received plans by Able UK for a 100m development that will create around 5,000 jobs in the next ten years. So these latest plans are really taking investment in the south Humber Gateway to the next level.

"We are attracting a lot of key interest in this area and this is not surprising as it is ideally located with great sea, air, road and rail links."

Marvin Seaman, project manager at Drax, said: "We believe the site is in an ideal location and we know that the proposals have strong backing from the local community."