The biomass conversion of a previously coal-fired power station in South Wales is on track.

According to SIMEC Atlantic Energy, the Uskmouth plant in Newport will be fuelled with pellets containing high levels of plastic waste, which cannot be recycled and might otherwise be sent to landfill; it is expected to consume around 900,000 tonnes of the waste pellets every year.

This innovative project is the world’s first conversion of a coal-fired power station to use waste-derived fuel, and it is one of the largest waste-to-value projects currently taking place in Europe.

It is expected to cost about £185 million and to extend the operational life of the plant by around 20 years.

SIMEC Atlantis Energy director David Taaffe said (www.simecatlantis.com): “We are extremely pleased with the progress being made at the Uskmouth conversion project, which is on track to become operational in 2021.

“FEED tests and studies have been successfully completed, with the largest test burn of the waste-derived fuel pellets completed to date, and tenders have been issued for the next phase of the conversion.”

The converted Uskmouth plant is expected to generate 1,500GWh of energy every year — enough to power almost 500,000 homes.

Mr Taaffe said: “We are already receiving high levels of interest from other asset owners looking to replicate the Uskmouth conversion process.”