Blackburn Meadows Biomass Power Plant

Decarbonising energy in South Yorkshire

Blackburn Meadows in Sheffield is our biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plant that became fully operational in 2015. It uses recycled waste wood sourced from within the UK to generate 30MW of electrical energy and up to 25MW of thermal energy, to power up to 69,000¹ homes and businesses in the South Yorkshire region. It also reduces carbon emissions by up to 65% when compared to natural gas.

The Results

A generation capacity of up to 30MW energy and up to 25MW thermal energy per year

65% less CO₂ emissions for heating, compared to natural gas

The installation of a 10MW industrial battery to provide grid stability

Connecting Forgemasters' to the Blackburn Meadows biomass plant has meant a reduction in our carbon emissions of over 700 tonnes of CO₂, to support our environmental credentials, whilst helping decarbonise Sheffield.

Environmental team, Forgemasters'

The challenge

E.ON is committed to creating a new sustainable energy world, and we’re always looking to develop innovative and renewable energy solutions. Historically the Blackburn Meadows site was a coal-fired power plant and we regenerated it into a renewable energy generator, as a biomass fuelled CHP plant nearly 10 years ago. The heat our biomass power plant generates, supplies local businesses through our own district heating network, including IKEA, Ice Sheffield, Sheffield Arena and Forgemasters' Steel Works. 

Battery storage unit at blackburn meadows biomass chp plant

Leading the way for battery installation in the UK

Blackburn Meadows led the innovation to develop industrial battery storage in the UK. In 2017, the battery became operational and with this innovative technology, we used this to provide resilience support to the National Grid to help ensure its stability. This battery storage system has the capability to respond in less than one second to deliver energy to the grid, allowing us to help protect the future energy market.

How does it work?

We developed a power station that uses waste wood (that would normally go to land fill), to generate heat and power. To reduce our environmental impact even further, the waste wood is sourced from around the UK. We burn this wood to create steam which generates electrical energy that goes onto the grid. We also supply heating to local businesses through our own district heating network. This biomass power plant has a low carbon emission content, supplying heat from Blackburn Meadows is 65% lower CO₂emissions compared for heating compared to the natural gas.

What funding is available for customers to support decarbonisation?

There’s several funding streams available to support our business and public sector customers to decarbonise their existing heat generation assets. This includes the Green Heat Network Fund and Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund. The funding available is to support commercialisation and capital investment to help transition to a low carbon future. We can help navigate the funding options available for our customers.

Next steps for decarbonisation in the UK

Blackburn Meadows has been an iconic source for renewable energy since the plant became operational in 2015. It continues to highlight our commitment to a more sustainable and independent energy system for the future.

We will be installing solar PV panels that will become operational from 2022, to power our on-site buildings. In addition to battery storage and solar PV, we continue to research and develop to create innovative energy technology systems as part of our decarbonisation strategy. The aim is to reduce our carbon emissions further and help the UK reach net zero, so we can all benefit from the energy transition.

We are delighted to build on Sheffield’s reputation as one of the greenest cities, so the Blackburn Meadows development is excellent news for our great city.

Councillor Jack Scott – Cabinet member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene at Sheffield City Council

Blackburn Meadows a timeline

Blackburn Meadows has been a part of the South Yorkshire skyline for many years. It's presence is a shining example of the changing energy landscape and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.