PDM Group has been awarded planning permission for a new renewable energy plant at its site in Widnes, Cheshire.

The £25 million biomass-to-energy plant is the second to be installed at Widnes and will double renewable energy production at the site – enough ‘green’ energy to power 20,000 homes.

The new plant will use state-of-the-art technology to turn 150,000 tonnes of food and drink waste from every part of the supply chain into a positive resource, rather than it ending up in landfill.

Philip Simpson, commercial director at PDM Group, commented: “As a country we have reached tipping point – energy, fuel and food prices are continuing to escalate and our existing energy-generation infrastructure is reaching the end of its life.

Therefore, it’s imperative that we look for alternative sources of energy to power us into the future and using food waste is an ideal alternative as it solves two problems, by also reducing waste going to landfill.”

“The new biomass-to-energy plant at Widnes is a visionary development for PDM and supports our expanding national food and drink waste collection and recycling service.”

“This is just one of a number of technologies we will be employing over the coming years to enable us to become an important player in the generation of renewable energy.”

The biomass-to-energy plant is due to be commissioned in 2010, after an 18 month construction programme, which will include extension work to an existing building at the Widnes site and installation of the new plant.