FOOD INGREDIENTS manufacturer Macphie of Glenbervie is to install a multi-million pound biomass plant at its rural Aberdeenshire factory. The first large industrial biomass steam plant in Scotland, it will be operational by mid-2008.

The 1.75MW boiler will use 5000 tonnes of locally sourced wood fuel each year to produce the baseline steam demand for the Glenbervie site. The company received a £400,000 grant from the Scottish Executive's £10.5 million Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.

Macphie chief executive Alastair Macphie said that the new biomass plant would play a major part in delivering the European Commission's target for 12% of energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 2010. Energy generation from biomass is expected to generate up to 74% of this target.

"Our business exists not only to manufacture high quality food ingredients, but also to sustain the estate and surrounding community," he said.

"The business currently uses 600-800kVA of electricity and our expansion plans would expect this to grow to 1500-2000kVA by 2011.

"The biomass plant is the first phase of our renewable energy plans and it will cut our carbon emissions by approximately 2000 tonnes annually. We are also reviewing other forms of renewable energy and it makes economic and environmental sense for our long-term sustainability. We have a long-standing commitment to the local community and protecting the environment."

Macphie is the UK's largest independent food ingredients manufacturer operating production facilities at Glenbervie and Tannochside, near Glasgow. It produces a wide variety of high-quality ambient mixes, concentrates, glazes, dairy cream alternatives, icings, frozen and chilled soups, butters and sauces for the bakery, food service and food manufacturing sectors.

The company, headquartered on a 700-year-old, 2000-acre estate owned by the Macphie family, employs an environmental manager and has also implemented an environmental policy with a range of targets covering energy and water usage, packaging reduction and reducing waste to landfill.

Energy minister Jim Mather said: "Scotland has a huge biomass resource which has the potential to meet local and small-scale energy needs.

"The Biomass Support Scheme has enabled Macphie to turn this potential into a reality. We will continue to support renewable technologies like biomass to ensure a clean, green environment and capitalise on this emerging industry for a vibrant Scottish economy."