Biomass: AREVA-led consortium launches a new project in France

AREVA and the industrial boiler supplier Leroux & Lotz Technologies (LLT) have been awarded a 45-million euro turnkey contract by Coriance, local district heating network operator, to build a cogeneration biomass plant on the Tricastin nuclear site in Pierrelatte, France.

The AREVA group is in charge of designing, building, installing and commissioning the biomass plant. It will also supply all the necessary equipment for the plant with the exception of the boiler which will be provided by LLT.

The biomass unit will produce 12 MW of electricity and generate up to 15 MWth of heat for the city of Pierrelatte and the Tricastin nuclear site.

The new plant is scheduled to begin commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Xavier Hurbin, CEO of AREVA’s Bioenergy business unit, declared: “This is the second major biomass contract awarded to AREVA in the past few months and the first in France, which strengthens our position as a leading provider of integrated technology solutions for biomass power plants."