A GREEN energy plant could be sited at Poundbury to provide electricity for the Dorchester estate.

A biomass power station would use waste, such as the by-products of sawmills and plant material or, more frequently, specially grown trees from a fast-growing plantation to create power.

Duchy of Cornwall officers are looking at ways to fulfil the Prince of Wales' vision of a fully sustainable community.

The prince is known to be keen on environmentally-friendly measures on the 400-acre estate, which is set to grow to accommodate 5,000 residents and more than 2,000 workers over the next few years.

Many of the houses are built with those principles in mind - using special materials to retain heat, and designs to create more light in the properties.

A feasibility study is being carried out to see whether a biomass energy plant would meet the needs of the homes and businesses on the estate and at several other locations around West Dorset.

West Dorset District Council, a team managing areas of outstanding natural beauty and the Duchy have joined together to appoint a renewable energy consultant, whose findings will be reported to council committees, whose members will have the final say on whether to go ahead.

Biomass plants are being used already at several locations around Britain, such as the National Botanic Gardens at Carmarthen, which uses 270 tonnes of wood chippings each year to provide the heat for its greenhouses.

Another source of biofuel could be manure and waste slurry from farms, which produce methane.

The Duchy's development manager Simon Conibear said: "We have commissioned a survey from Dr Robin Cotton for a biomass energy plant in Poundbury and the surrounding farms.

"It is something we wanted to investigate, but do not know where it will be as we are still awaiting the results of the feasibility study.

"Itt is in line with the Prince of Wales' way of thinking and so we have it on the agenda as one of our options."