The new gas turbine and boiler plant at Wilton Power Station is operating after a construction phase which created 86 jobs and 200,000 hours of work.

The project is the plant's first large scale investment for 16 years and has reduced emissions through the use of natural gas, the company said.

It comes two years after SembCorp Utilities took over the site.

The project involved the closure of an oil-fired boiler, resulting in reduced emissions because the new plant burns natural gas.

The company's managing director Paul Gavens said: "The power station is already relatively energy efficient by virtue of the fact that we re-use much of the steam, but this will enhance its environmental performance even further."