Steven’s Croft is the biggest standalone biomass renewable energy plant in the UK. Rated at 44MWe it generates enough electricity each year to power the equivalent of approximately 70,000 homes. The plant is fuelled entirely by biomass, using a blend of saw mill co products and small round wood, short rotation coppice and recycled fibre. The main plant was commissioned in March 2008 and was subsequently converted from pure power generation to a combined heat and power plant in 2011.

Fichtner provided technical support for the pre-construction development with services for the development of the main plant, including technology review; permitting support (planning application and application for Environmental Authorisation under PPC Regulations); provision of operating and maintenance cost data for financial model; preparation of specification and tender invitation documents for the design and construction of the facility and support for negotiations with prospective contractors.

More recently Fichtner provided a range of engineering services during the development, construction and commissioning of the heat supply infrastructure scheme, including preparation of outline engineering design and detailed tender documentation for the infrastructure required to enable the supply of heat to the James Jones & Sons Sawmill (approximately 1km from the plant).

Our services included heat extraction design, district heating pipe size, route optimisation and method of delivery to end user, detailed specifications, tender documentation, tender appraisal, design reviews, construction monitoring and support during commissioning and performance testing.