The plant, which will be located within the existing boundary of the South Hook Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, will generate around 500MW of electricity, and will also supply heat to the neighbouring LNG plant.
The next step in the process is now for the shoreholders – including Qatar Global Ventures, ExxonMobil Power and Total Gas and Power Business Services – to make a final investment decision on the project.
Energy secretary Ed Davey said: “In addition to creating hundreds of jobs during the construction phrase, this plant makes an important contribution to reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector and provides flexible generating capacity.
“CHP is a highly efficient means of generating power that can lower costs, increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions from heating and power generation.”
Wales Office minister Baroness Randerson added: “Investment in new energy infrastructure is essential if we are to keep the lights on and bills and emissions down.
“CHP is a highly efficient process which has an important role to play in providing us with a variety of energy generation technologies, which will help to secure our energy future.”
If a positive investment decision is reached, construction on the new plant is scheduled to commence in 2015 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.