The UK's first large-scale wood-burning power station is being officially opened on Teesside.
The £60m Wilton 10 facility, will use about 300,000 tonnes of woodchips a year and provide enough electricity for 30,000 homes.
Operator SembCorp Utilities UK claims the plant will save 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, compared to a fossil fuel burning station.
The facility is being opened by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks on Monday.
About 40% of the wood used will come from recycled timber, much of which was previously sent to landfill.
A significant amount will also come from managed forests in the north-east of England, sawmills and specially grown crops.
'Greener future'
Paul Gavens, Sembcorp Utilities UK's managing director, said: "This investment is extremely good news for Sembcorp, the Wilton International manufacturing site and the people of the Tees Valley.
"It sustains jobs and plays a part in helping the government meet the UK's climate change and greenhouse gas reduction targets.
"Renewable energy presents an entirely new business opportunity for this region and one that we're keen to be a part of.
"We believe this investment offers us a great platform from which we can move forward to a brighter, greener future."
About 1,000 jobs were created during the two-year construction phase and there are 15 new positions to run the plant.
The plant requires the growth of around 7,500 acres of coppice in the region - the equivalent of around 3,000 football pitches.
The electricity it generates is being sold to E.on.
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