Lynemouth Power – MHEA Site Visit 11th June 2025
On 11th June, MHEA members were privileged to undertake a comprehensive and immersive tour of Lynemouth Power Station, gaining a first-hand insight into the full end-to-end operation to one of the UK’s key biomass-fired power generation facilities that supplies clean energy capable of powering approximately 450,000 homes with a generating capacity of around 420 megawatts (MW).
The group was treated to an in-depth look at each stage of the station’s fuel and energy handling processes, including:
- Train and Lorry Unloading – Members learned the process of the unloading of biomass from rail wagons or lorries, being brought to Lynemouth Power Station from the previous site visit, the Port of Tyne. This showcased the scale and efficiency of the plant’s fuel logistics infrastructure.
- Fuel Handling to Main Silos – The tour then followed the journey of the biomass through conveyor systems into the main six 194ft high silos, each with a capacity of 8,500 tonne where careful environmental control ensures material integrity and safety.
- Reclaim from Silos to Intermediate Silos – Members learned how fuel is reclaimed from the main silos and transferred to intermediate silos, preparing it for final delivery to the boiler house.
- Pneumatic Transfer to Boiler House – The group witnessed the high-velocity pneumatic systems used to transfer biomass from intermediate silos to the boiler feed system, highlighting the engineering precision required in handling biomass at scale.
- Milling Process – The tour included a look at the milling systems that prepare the biomass for combustion, ensuring the correct particle size and consistency for optimal thermal performance.
- Control Room Visit – Inside the control room, members gained an insight into the operational oversight of the entire plant, including real-time monitoring of delivering biomass from the port to the Station, combustion, emissions and power output.
- Ash Handling Systems – The visit concluded with an overview of how ash, produced from biomass combustion, is safely collected, cooled, and conditioned for potential reuse.
This visit provided the MHEA members with an exceptional and unique opportunity to understand the complexity and innovation involved in transitioning from coal to biomass and how Lynemouth Power Station continues to play a vital role in supporting the UK’s decarbonisation efforts whilst consistently exceeding all expectations of health and safety guidelines. Operating 24/7, 365 days annually, the station ensures consistently high standards.
The MHEA extends sincere thanks to the Lynemouth team, particularly Davey Wharrier, (Fuel Handling Manager) for organising the whole visit and Simon McGhie, (Performance Engineer) Phillip Dodds (Fuel Handling Engineer) and Steven Reynolds (Rotating Plant Engineer) for their time and the level of detail shared during the tour.
Web: www.epuki.co.uk/
