Construction work has started on a £160m renewable energy plant in Snetterton.

The 44.2MW straw-powered biomass plant will create jobs and help to drive the regeneration of the Snetterton area.

The plant will have capacity to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 82,000 homes and the potential to become an electricity connectivity point for Snetterton Heath, where electricity connectivity is currently poor.

"I'm absolutely delighted that construction of the biomass plant is now officially underway and am looking forward to the realisation of the benefits it is expected to bring for local people," said Councillor Michael Wassell, Leader of Breckland Council.

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"The power that this plant will generate, along with the improved infrastructure offered by the dualled A11 and Breckland's 'open for business' policies, make the district an increasingly attractive place for businesses. That's good news for residents as it means more jobs, regeneration, growth, and a prosperous future."

Once the plant is built it will provide up to 36 permanent jobs, plus a further 50 jobs in fuel transportation. Contracts are already in place with local farmers, whose surplus straw will help to power the biomass plant for the coming decade, which will bring in an £11m annual investment to the East Anglian agricultural economy.

The plant will be run by Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC), which will own it in partnership with a Danish infrastructure fund managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners A/S, and will oversee the construction process.

The project was originally developed by Iceni Energy Ltd who was given the green light to build the plant by Breckland in 2012. Iceni Energy has since joined forces with leading renewable energy project developer Eco2 Ltd.

(CD/JP)