Press

5.10.11 Press release

EcoPark Proposals Go Public

The identity for the preferred bidder for Anglesey Aluminium's Holyhead site has now been announced, revealing plans for an eco park that will combine a biomass power station with aquaculture and agriculture.

The preferred bidder, Lateral Power, put forward a proposal to provide sustainable electricity for the UK power grid, with plans going far beyond energy generation. While the thermal degradation of biomass will generate steam to drive turbines that produce electricity, the by-products of the process will provide warm water to feed a specialist fish farm. The soiled water from the fish farm, combined with CO₂ from the power plant, will feed hydroponic greenhouses.

Said Lateral Power's CEO, Sean McCormick: "We are absolutely delighted to have been given preferred bidder status. Our vision is to provide not only sustainable electricity for the UK power grid but also healthy, freshly grown food products for local and regional cities, reducing the need for imported food with a large carbon footprint. We are also strongly committed to securing employment and sustainable income for local residents on Anglesey.

"We believe that this will be one of the largest biomass power stations and the largest combined aquaculture facility in the world. The Anglesey Aluminium site is perfectly located for the purpose, having one of the best deep-water harbours in the UK, excellent rail links onto the site and connections straight onto the UK power grid.

"Partnering with other like-minded businesses will be key to the development of the eco park as we take our proposal on to the next stage. We anticipate that the initial phase of development alone will secure over 400 jobs, not including those involved in the construction process. We will be re-utilising a number of the buildings on site and the sensitive design of the power station will improve the existing industrial landscape significantly."

Sean concluded: "The Lateral Power team is very experienced in power generation from biomass and we have a number of innovative energy projects in the pipeline. We see the Anglesey eco park as a template for the future, and we are incredibly excited at the prospect of now taking it to the planning stage."