Ports & Infrastructure

Wood Pellet Handling, Storage and Transportation Facility

PORT OF TYNE, TYNE & WEAR

Client: Port of Tyne

Project: The design, delivery and installation of a wood pellet handling service.

Cost: £75M

Services: Project Management , Quantity Surveying , Employer's Agent

RIBA Project Stages: 0-7

The design, manufacture and construction of a wood pellet handling, storage and transportation facility. This international project was one of the largest projects of its kind undertaken in the UK and was part of a wider project involving the conversion of coal fired power stations to wood pellet fired, which has environmental benefits and enhances local employment opportunities.

Sergio Duque Del Rio Senior Project Manager "At times it was really intense, especially the point when the hoppers were lifted onto the rails and needed to be in perfect alignment with the wharf conveyor. My thanks to the design team and fantastic collaboration with the entire Anglo-Spanish project team. I am also very proud that we played our part in carbon reduction."

The opportunity

Total Project Integration managed several enabling works projects, along with the design, installation, testing and commissioning of two purpose-built, rail mounted wood pellet hoppers, specialist wood pellet handling and storage facilities and new piled quayside hopper rails. The enabling works included the relocation of the port’s scrap reception facility, container terminal redevelopment, provision of a new crane wash facility, extension to the existing operational rail lines, rail crossing widening and a new incoming HV power supply. We also managed the coordination of the construction of the wood pellet handling facility within the constraints of a live, operational port.

The challenge

The enabling works were critical to the programme and key dates were built into the port’s contract with the power station and into the works’ contracts. The fully automated hoppers were manufactured in Spain to the port’s exact specification and delivered by sea. Anglo-Spanish coordination of the design and build of the hoppers, and site works, was required to ensure perfect alignment between the hopper’s delivery chutes, quayside conveyor and rail mountings. Stakeholder management was a key requirement, with the works undertaken in a live port environment.

The outcome

The projects were all delivered on time and the facility is now in full operation, with wood pellet vessels being discharged to on-site storage silos, via the hoppers, and then transported thereafter, by rail, to the power station.

“We have worked with Total Project Integration for over 5 years. Their philosophy, to work closely with their client, has enabled them to understand the unique requirements of the port, and work within our operational framework, culture and ethos. Consequently, the needs of our supply chain such as Lynemouth Power Station, have been very well met.”

Kevin Emmett

Head of Infrastucture Development, Port of Tyne

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