SembCorp Utilities UK, which is investing £60m in the Wilton 10 project, has named UPM Tilhill as sole supplier of roundwood from the region’s privately-owned forests and woodlands across north Yorkshire and north-east England.
UPM Tilhill, which manages around 6,000ha across the region, says it is keen involve other woodland owners, timber merchants and harvesting contractorsin the project.
“All of UPM Tilhill’s clients will have the opportunity to benefit from this new local market and we want other woodland owners to be aware of the opportunities, which could help unlock previously under-managed woodland blocks,” said UPM Tillhill timber operations director Peter Whitfield.
He said local wood supplies from private woodlands and forests would help reduce emissions and transportation, reinforcing the environmental principles behind the power station project.
Wilton 10, currently under construction, will generate 30MW of electricity – enough to power 30,000 homes – by the middle of 2007. Its annual requirement of 300,000 tonnes of wood fuel will be comprised of small roundwood, short rotation willow coppice, sawmill chips and recycled timber.
