The owners of a Lynn paper mill have announced they will press ahead with plans to build a new gas turbine to produce electricity and steam for the plant.
Details of the Palm Paper proposal, for which they expect to submit a formal application later this year, were confirmed on Wednesday.
And a public exhibition on the project will be held at the South Lynn Community Centre next Wednesday, January 30, between 1pm and 9pm.
The company wants to build a 162 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) as part of the mill.
The facility, which would have an 80 metre stack, would use gas and steam turbines, which then drive a common generator, to produce power to be used in the paper-making process.
Waste steam from the process, which the company claims would achieve 85 per cent efficiency, would also be recycled to be used in the paper mill.
A statement added: “The CCGT will allow Palm Paper to reduce their reliance on imported energy.”
Copies of documents relating to the plan will be available at the Lynn and Gaywood libraries, as well as the West Norfolk Council offices in Chapel Street, Lynn, from today for residents to look at.
And the company also intends to stage other drop-in events in surrounding areas, including St Germans and West Winch.
News of the proposal has been welcomed by North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who said: “It seems to me to be a very sensible recycling project.”
He also believes it could be a “nail in the coffin” of the proposed Lynn incinerator, whose supporters have previously cited the close proximity of a potential user of heat and power generated by the plant, such as Palm Paper, as a reason for that development to proceed.
But, when it first emerged last summer that Palm were considering their own power plant, Norfolk County Council chiefs insisted it did not alter the business case for the incinerator.
However, Mr Bellingham said this week: “I think it is hugely significant. They’ve clearly given up on Cory Wheelabrator. I would say this is a significant nail in the coffin for the incinerator.”
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