The government said that the construction plans were approved under section 36 of the electricity act 1989, which requires consent to build and operate power stations with a capacity of more than 50MW. The station has also been given deemed planning permission subject to 42 conditions agreed with the Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.
As part of the consent, UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks placed a condition on the building of the plant, which requires Bridgestones Developments to install the necessary plant and pipeworks to ensure that the station can supply heat in the future if the opportunity materializes.
According to the government, combined heat and power (CHP) plants can, in the right setting, ensure that fuel is used more efficiently by capturing and using heat and generating electricity in a single process.
Mr Wicks said: To secure our energy supplies and power our homes, it is important industry brings forward new energy infrastructure to maintain a diverse energy mix. In consenting to this project I felt it was important that the potential for utilizing heat from the station is kept open, and the necessary equipment is installed.
