The Antwerp Port Authority and the international chemical group Solvay Energy NV may have moved one step closer to the realisation of a biomass fired power station at the port’s Solvay site.
The two parties signed a shareholder agreement last week and set up a special company to spearhead a new company in charge of the project called Antwerp Biopower.
The company is now looking to attract an operating partner, then the financial feasibility of the proposed power station will be more closely examined and a final decision will be taken on the project.
Until an operating partner is selected, Solvay Energy NV will hold a stake of 60% in the new company with the port authority holding 40%.
The proposed power station is intended to have a capacity of between 200 and 400 MW and it will be fuelled by wood biomass. Biomass is largely expected to be an important source of energy in the future as it is carbon neutral.
Belgium has already signed up to generate 2000 MW from solid biomass in line with the objectives set by the EU for 2020.
If the project's feasibility study is accepted by the Flemish government, construction of the new power station could begin in 2018.
