Spencer Group is underway with work to create new biomass facilities at Tyne Dock in South Shields.

The multi-million pound deal was awarded by Lynemouth Power and will see up to 200 construction jobs created.

Features include the design and construction of a facility for the handling, storage and rail-loading of wood pellets at the Port of Tyne.

With a recent £25 million investment by Lynemouth Power in Riverside Quay to support the project, the new facilities will handle up to 1.8 million tonnes of wood pellets per year, meeting the full requirements of Lynemouth Power Station.

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Wood pellets will be conveyed mechanically to one of three silos, each capable of storing 25,000 tonnes of pellets. The material will then be discharged from the silos via two conveying streams, leading to a rail-loading facility for transportation to Lynemouth.

Other features include building a control room, workshops, stores and welfare facilities, creating a standalone facility at the port. The existing rail infrastructure at the site will be improved to provide dedicated rail lines for the scheme, along with connecting the development to the 11,000 volts mains supply.

Spencer founder and Executive Chairman, Charlie Spencer OBE, said the contract is the single largest deal the company has secured in the materials handling and storage sector.

"It validates our long-term strategic focus on major infrastructure projects in the renewable energy field and recognises our industry-leading capability in the safe, reliable and efficient movement, storage and loading of biomass materials," he said.

"We are proud to be contributing once again to a significant project supporting the UK’s transition to a secure and sustainable low-carbon economy."

(LM)