HELSINKI, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Wärtsilä has been awarded two contracts by Scottish and Newcastle (S&N), the major international brewing group, to supply and install equipment for two biomass-fuelled combined heat and power plants (CHP). The contracts are for two CHP plants to be located on the premises of the company's UK breweries in Manchester, for which the order was received in the end of 2007, and Tadcaster, for which the order was received in the beginning of 2008.

These Wärtsilä BioPower plants will be the first power plants in the world ever to produce, with high efficiency, both electricity and heat using spent grain as fuel. Spent grain is a by-product of the brewing process.

The Wärtsilä solution represents a major step towards sustainable energy self-suffiency for the brewing industry. At the same time, these BioPower plants will help the UK meet its target of having renewables power 10% of the country's electric supply by 2010.

The CHP plants will each have a thermal output of 7.4 MWth and an electrical output of 3.1 MWe. The plants, which will burn a mixture of spent grain and wood chips from local sources, are due to start operations in the first and second quarters of 2009, producing steam and electricity for the breweries' processes and exporting excess electricity to the local electricity network. S&N will earn Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC's) for its production of renewable electricity.

"These projects are extremely important to our company in that they are a real demonstration of our commitment to improve our environmental footprint. Additionally, we believe the investments make good commercial sense, providing some protection from the volatility of the energy markets, as well offering additional security of supply," says Andrew McMurtrie, Project Manager, Scottish & Newcastle.

"The Wärtsilä BioPower plants will enable Scottish & Newcastle to make more efficient use of residue from its beer production, cut down on waste handling and energy costs, as well as reducing CO2 emissions," says Tauno Kuitunen, Regional Sales Director, Wärtsilä Biopower.

Wärtsilä BioPower plants

Wärtsilä's biomass-fuelled plants are clean and efficient. They are a practical solution to the need for renewable energy supply with minimum environmental impact. They incorporate patented Wärtsilä BioGrate combustion technology to burn biofuels with high combustion efficiency and low emissions.

Link to picture: http://www.datahotelli.com/wpr/g.jsp?id=2008_03_03

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 16,000 professionals manning 150 Wärtsilä locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on The Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland. http://www.wartsila.com

Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) in brief

Scottish &Newcastle is one of the world's leading beer-led beverages companies with some of Europe's top beer brands like Baltika, Foster's, and Kronenbourg 1664, as well as several major national beer brands such as Lapin Kulta and Karjala in Finland, John Smith's and Strongbow in the UK, Kronenbourg Red&White in France, Sagres in Portugal, and Kingfisher in India. S&N owns or has an interest in over 50 breweries internationally. S&N has more than 15,000 employees based in its direct operations in Europe. S&N has market leading positions in 15 countries across Europe and Asia, including market leadership in the UK, France, Russia, Baltic Countries, Kazakhstan and India and number two positions in Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Greece and the Ukraine. In addition to international and national brands, S&N has a portfolio of other beverages including mineral water, cider and soft drinks.

http://www.scottish-newcastle.com

For further information, please contact: Tauno Kuitunen, Regional Sales Director, Wärtsilä Biopower tel. +358-40-7170115 Ilkka Heikkilä, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Biopower tel. +358-40-8209186

For further information, please contact: Tauno Kuitunen, Regional Sales Director, Wärtsilä Biopower, tel. +358-40-7170115; Ilkka Heikkilä, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Biopower, tel. +358-40-8209186