<article><p class="lead">UK biomass developer MGT Power has suspended construction of its 299MW Teesside biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant in northeast England. </p><p>Construction was suspended on 24 March as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. </p><p>Around 1,500 workers are employed on the project. Construction is managed by Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas and engineering firm Atlantic Projects. A number of maintenance staff remain on site. </p><p>The plant is still expected to start up on 31 July, according to UK state-owned Low Carbon Contracts' (LCCC) CfD register.</p><p>MGT was awarded a 15-year CfD subsidy in 2014, at an inflation-linked strike price of £125/MWh. The current strike price is £141.84/MWh, LCCC data show.</p><p>MGT is the world's largest newbuild dedicated biomass plant. It is expected to consume 1mn t/yr of wood pellets at full capacity.</p><p class="bylines">By Jamie Aldridge</p></article>
