Plant is on the market for £10m, and could create 600 construction jobs

A biomass power plant is to be built on Anglesey after receiving government backing.

The plant has the potential to power 300,000 homes, and is set to create up to 600 jobs in the construction sector.

It will be built on the Anglesey Aluminium Metals site near Holyhead, and will employ about 100 full-time staff when fully operational.

Energy minister Charles Hendry welcomed the project, saying: “We want a balanced energy portfolio and we want biomass to play a key role in this.

“I am especially pleased that the plant offers the prospect of so many high quality jobs in Anglesey.”

Anglesey council leader Bryan Owen said: “There is great potential for job creation, both in terms of the construction and operation of the proposed plant.

“Clearly, this is a credible project that also reflects the wider energy mix associated with the Anglesey energy island programme.”

An environmental permit has been granted to the plant following a year’s scrutiny by the Environment Agency Wales.

The power it generates will be used by the aluminium works or exported to the National Grid.

The plant will be powered by fuel such as wood pellets, which will be sourced locally or imported via the port at Holyhead.

John Mervyn Jones, the senior environmental specialist at Anglesey Aluminium Metals, confirmed the firm already has a preferred bidder for the plant, which is on the market for around £10m.

“The board told us the decision will be announced publicly probably at the end of this month,” he said.

Plans to create a leisure park near the plant are also on the table. Land and Lakes has an option to buy 630 acres of land - also owned by AAM - at Penrhos Country Park.

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