Tilbury biomass fire proves handling risks

Port Strategy
04 Mar 2012

A huge fire in two biomass storage hoppers at Tilbury Power Station has highlighted the challenges for ports involved in handling and storing wood pellets for power generation.

Essex deputy chief fire officer Adam Eckley described the blaze as one of the largest the service had ever encountered. At its peak, 120 firefighters were onsite. According to Mr Eckley, early indications suggested the fire may have started in a conveyor belt above the hoppers.

RWE has invested millions of pounds in converting the power station, situated alongside the River Thames, from coal-fired to a facility 100% fuelled by wood pellets and tall oil, a by-product of wood pulp manufacture, to deliver 750 MW of green power.

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