The plant in Port Talbot, South Wales, will use wood chip to produce electricity which produces between 50% to 80% less greenhouse gas emissions than gas or coal fired power stations.

Environment Agency officials gave Prenergy Power permission for the plant this morning, saying it would be the UK’s largest ever built.

And for the first time as part of the approval the agency has demanded all wood used at the plant is from sustainable sources.

The agency’s head of climate change and sustainable development, Tony Grayling, said: “As part of its environmental permit, Prenergy must prove to the Environment Agency that its wood is sustainable.

“If the sustainability standard is met, this new station will be a big step towards meeting the Government’s climate change and renewable energy targets.

“In the future we would like to see all biomass developers meet the high standards that have been set by Prenergy.”

The decision to allow the plant follows a lengthy evaluation process and discussions with local people.

Luke Walsh

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