GBE Gocher Bioenergie is a joint venture of RWE Innogy, Goch-based food producer Nähr-Engel and Goch municipal utility.
The 28MW thermal and 7.6MW electric combined heat and power plant, worth €34m, will utilize landscaping wood to provide electricity to Nähr-Engel as well as the town grid.
The plant is projected to power 11,000 households and displace 48,000t of carbon dioxide a year.
Nähr-Engel MD Johannes Anton van den Boom said, "The conversion of our steam supply to largely carbon-neutral biomass constitutes a milestone for the sustainable development of our company."
The company will use about 130,000t of process heat annually to produce high-grade potato products.
RWE Innogy Germany biomass head Frank Mattat said that the plant has been tailored to cater to both Nähr-Engel and the local conditions of the former Hendick site.
"The plant is a successful example of decentralised combined heat and power production and stands for climate protection and energy efficiency," Mattat added.
