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Government gives consent to construct a combined heat & power station at Seal sands, Teesside

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/184) issued by The Government News Network on 28 August 2008

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has today given the go ahead to Thor Cogeneration Ltd to construct a 1,020MW gas-fired combined heat and power station at Seal sands, Teesside. He has also given deemed planning permission for the development having agreed planning conditions with Stockton on Tees Borough Council.

Combined heat and power plants are designed to produce both electricity and usable heat. They have environmental benefits due to their very high levels of efficiency. Local industry will be able to harness and use the heat produced from electricity generation at this power station.

The decision demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to promote CHP, wherever practicable, and our commitment to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Malcolm Wicks said:

"To secure our energy supplies, and power our homes it is important industry brings forward new energy infrastructure to maintain a diverse energy mix. It's also important that as we face the challenges of climate change we move towards more efficient energy production and this power station is an example of that."

Notes for Editors:

1. Proposals to construct power stations with a capacity greater than 50 MW requires the Secretary of State's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Planning permission is deemed to be granted under section 90(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets. It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies

Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
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