The energy giant E.ON has put forward plans for construction of a major new biomass power plant in the south-west of England.

Presently, the company, which represents the UK arm of the German utilities firm, operates a biomass power station close to the town of Lockerbie in Scotland, while it has also received the green light for a further 25MW plant near Sheffield.

However, these latest proposals for a Port of Bristol plant represent the company's most ambitious biomass initiative to date, with 200,000 homes in the region to benefit from power generated through the burning of wood should the plans go ahead.

Dr Paul Golby, chief executive of E.ON UK, noted: 'This scheme would be one of the largest biomass power stations ever built in the UK and would make a considerable contribution to helping the Government meet its renewable energy targets."

The company is expected to put forward a full application to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) by the end of next year, though it has already issued a scoping statement to both the government department as well as North Somerset Council.