RNS Number:6610W
Helius Energy Plc
16 May 2007
   Helius Energy appoints Engineering Contractor for 65MW biomass power plant
Biomass to power company Helius Energy Plc is delighted to announce the
appointment of McBurney Corporation and Morgan Est Plc to undertake
pre-engineering works leading to the construction of the company's flagship 65MW
biomass power plant in Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire. The
construction and operation of the power plant is expected to save around half a
million tonnes of CO2 each year.
Helius Energy was established to install and operate biomass-fired renewable
electricity generation plants, designed to meet the growing need for reliable
power and to support the move away from fossil fuels. The Group is positioned to
take advantage of renewable energy legislation developed to combat climate
change.
The pre-engineering works include combustion trials to establish emission
levels, confirmation of the biomass fuel mixture and Front End Engineering
Design (FEED) work to maximise the reliability, efficiency and cost of the
renewable power plant over 10 - 15 years.
The contract will take around 20 weeks and is expected to lead to a minimum risk
Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract, worth around #100 million,
in due course.
Helius Energy's Technical Director Dr Adrian Bowles said: "This is an important
milestone in our plans to generate renewable electricity from biomass. The
appointment of such an experienced engineering contractor will help ensure a
rapid and reliable construction programme, following a successful consent under
Section 36 of the Electricity Act." 
Blake McBurney, President of McBurney Corporation said "This really is an 
exciting project and we are proud to be part of it."
Additionally, the company has appointed McLellan and Partners Ltd (McLellan) as
Owners Engineers, a company with a long track record in biomass energy. McLellan
will monitor the design and specifications prepared by the contractor to ensure
an optimum plant design, providing engineering expertise as required.
Helius Energy has recently strengthened its in-house project team, with the
appointment of Katharina Bischof as Project Engineer. Katharina joins Head of
Projects Steve Wood and Mandy Daley General Manager of Stallingborough.
The company holds a 3-year option to purchase the 36 hectare freehold
Stallingborough site which is located on Humber Estuary, 6km from the port of
Immingham. The local grid capacity supports a new 65MW power station and the
application for planning permission is at an advanced stage. The site also
allows for the potential co-location of separate bio-ethanol and bio-diesel
plants, which would produce biomass as by-products.
Helius Energy also holds an eighteen-month option to acquire a site on the Tees
Estuary and is actively seeking a third large site in the UK. Subject to
suitable financing, the Group intends to initially develop one other large
project and up to three further small-scale projects.
For more information contact:
Helius Energy plc                                     Tel: 020 7554 1400
John Seed, Managing Director
Daniel Stewart & Company plc                          Tel: 020 7523 8312
Lindsay Mair
Tessa Smith
Gavin Anderson & Company                              Tel: 020 7554 1400
Robert Speed
Kate Hill
                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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