Stevens Croft
A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility, Stevens Croft processes up to 480,000 tonnes per year of virgin wood and waste wood and has an output of 47 MWe gross, 44 MWe to the grid, and 6.5 MWth.
The plant is located in Lockerbie, Scotland.
Site Details
| Operator | E-On |
|---|---|
| Site | Stevens Croft |
| Permit No | PPC/A/1011415 |
| Plated | 480000 |
| Status | Operational |
Plant Description
The plant is based on standard combustion via a single line Kvaerner Power Bubbling Fluidised Bed power boiler, fuel handling and flue gas cleaning equipment[2]. The boiler conditions were designed at at 537°C, 137Bar with a capacity to raise 16 MWth of energy. The high steam conditions dictate the need for specialist corrosion resistant materials in the high temperature components and to control fuel quality[1].
Siemens provided overall coordination, engineering and project management as well as the civil works and electrical and I&C equipment[2].
The power plant is able to burn a maximum of 20% recycled wood (limited by Planning and its IPPC Permit and termed recycled fibre[4]) and a maximum of 20% short rotation coppice. Moisture Content for the plant is between 46% and 58%, with a design blend of 53%[2].
History
Construction of the plant began in October 2005 with the plant entering commissioning in Autumn 2007. Construction was carried out by a Siemens/Kvaerner consortium[2].
The plant was developed and is owned by E.ON UK and cost an estimated €132m[2].
Construction of the facility at Steven's Croft not only included the biomass plant but a fuel processing facility and 26km of underground electrical cable connecting the plant to Chapel Cross electrical sub-station[1].
The fuel processing facility was designed to blend all the various sources of fuel into one homogeneous material. It includes up to 14 days of round wood storage, a facility for reception of pre-chipped fuel, up to 6000m3 of covered chipped fuel storage, a round wood chipping facility, fuel reclamation and forwarding equipment with systems for final preparation of the fuel before delivery to the power plant[1].
In 2025 it was announced that E.ON intended to develop a hydrogen-based e-methanol facility as part of Scotland's HyLion network[3].
References:
- Mott MacDonald Article (no longer availabel on line)
- Power Technology Article Oct 2025
- E.ON Website Article Jul 2025
- Annual Report 2024
