When we think about clean energy, it is easy to picture vast wind farms on the horizon or solar panels stretching out under the sun. But what does clean energy production look like in a dense, industrial city like Birmingham?
The answer lies in reimagining the city itself as part of the energy system. In Birmingham, clean energy is not confined to open landscapes. It is embedded within industry, infrastructure, and innovation districts, and that is our vision in phase one of Tyseley Energy Park’s masterplan.
Clean energy creation in practice at Tyseley Energy Park
On the first phase of Tyseley Energy Park, £47 million was invested into the 10.3 MW waste wood biomass power plant, Birmingham Bio Power Limited (BBPL) creating 19 new jobs, and saving 72,000 tonnes of waste wood from going to landfill.
The plant uses waste wood as its feedstock, sourced primarily from the district, where it is heated onsite to produce gas. Using novel gasification technology, this is used to create steam from water, and it is this steam that drives the generator to produce the electrical power.
The BBPL plant powers all of Webster and Horsfall’s manufacturing operation and members across Tyseley Energy Park with renewable electricity. Its sustainable power generated is equivalent to the amount required to power 20,000 local homes, showing the potential for inner-city clean energy production.
Inspiring the next generation
Tyseley Energy Park also houses the Bioenergy Group – a joint research platform to develop thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR), and technologies for waste processing, producing biodiesel; renewable gasoline; renewable aviation fuel; and biohydrogen.
The reactor, which is based at Tyseley Energy Park, produces renewable liquid fuels from waste biomass, which can replace fossil fuels.
Excitingly, this technology opens up long-term opportunities to convert organic waste into renewable fuels and to directly implement these fuels into existing petroleum. And it’s happening right here on site at Tyseley Energy Park.
The impact of green energy for cities
2025 saw the launch of the West Midlands Growth Plan, a bold vision to transform the region’s economy over the next decade. In this plan, various ambitions are outlined, spanning economic growth and new homes.
It also includes the statement that the West Midlands will be on track to achieve its ambition to be carbon neutral by 2041.
In order to do this, we need to be at once innovative and realistic about the ways in which green energy can be delivered to homes across our city.
At Tyseley Energy Park, we are inspired by the work that our members achieve in this vein, and we are excited to continue supporting them as their solutions scale-up, reaching national, even global, heights.
Want to learn more about how we can support your organisation develop and scale-up? Get in touch with our team.
