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Nexterra Systems announced that it has signed a contract with MWH to supply a biomass gasification system for the Birmingham Bio Power Ltd. (BBPL) renewable energy power plant in Tyseley, UK.

Developed by Carbonarius, the plant will be capable of producing over 10MW of renewable electricity for sale to the grid. The project will create more than 100 engineering, project management and construction jobs and 19 full time jobs on site once operational.

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The Nexterra system qualifies as an Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) under UK legislation, meaning that the power generated by the project will receive the highest band of Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs).

So it will get the biggest subsidy, and cost users the most. 67,000 tons of wood is a lot to burn, is that really the best use for it?

Better to burn the wood in efficient domestic wood stoves, simpler, lower technology and displacing oil, coal, or gas that would otherwise have been used.

The problem with burning this sort of scrap wood at home is disposal of the ash. Much of the older wood will contain a copper, chrome, arsenic wood preserver which could cause problems for anyone who puts it on their garden. That ash will be a toxic hazardous waste which the large company will be responsible for disposing of cleanly under EU rules.

The waste heat should be recovered and used though to increase the efficiency of the energy conversion. It is doubtful that this will happen though.