The construction of a new €40m biomass plant in Co Offaly is set to create more than 65 staff jobs upon its completion.

Work on the multi-million euro facility, which is intended to generate enough energy to power up to 5,000 homes, will begin early next year.

There are an estimated 65 positions to be filled in the plant, which is expected to be completed in mid-2012.

Biotricity’s new 15MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) biomass plant will be powered by willow trees grown by Irish farmers.

It will be adjacent to an old ESB power station that was decommissioned in 2002.

The construction of the bioplant is expected not only to generate new jobs for people in the locality but to provide work for local farmers, as well being carbon efficient power for the commercial energy market.