GDF Suez and its subsidiary, Electrabel, have unveiled the Rodenhuize 100% biomass power station in Belgium. The new unit has an output of 180MW and generates a volume of electricity every year that is equivalent to the annual consumption of 320,000 families. In addition, it will reduce coal emissions by 1.2 million tons annually. The plant is jointly owned by Electrabel with 73% and Ackermans & van Haaren with 27%, GDF Suez said.

In the new unit, coal has been fully replaced by wood pellets that are certified by an independent body to be of sustainable origin. One-third of the supply of wood pellets for the new Rodenhuize unit is sent by boat to the port of Ghent from the Pacific BioEnergy production facility located in the Canadian province of British Columbia, with whom Electrabel has signed a long-term contract for 225,000tns of biomass per year.