18-01-2024, 09:54 AM
Update.
I have spent well over 60 hours now on this subject doing research and compiling information.
An email was sent yesterday to Sir John Hayes our MP. Some of the following is addressed.
The almost built cabbage protein factory had no mention whatsoever in that application of needing an AD plant on the adjacent field to provide energy. If it had suggested that fact I am certain it would never been passed with it being so close to town, literally on the edge of the town boundary.
Seems a crafty move to me. Build the plant then say the AD is needed to provide energy and as £35M has already been spent, It MUST be approved.
However, the factory is not a huge energy guzzler and 8GWh AD p.a. would leave a huge surplus to sell to the grid.
The 70GWh biogas would also be sold to the grid.
Thus, making the AD plant an energy providing commercial business, using food wsste wherby a charge is levied for such disposal, but the planning persuasion emphasis being required for the adjacent factory energy requirement that uses cabbages grown by the applicant.
That is really stretching the point of any agricultural connection to the AD!
An enquiry I made a week ago to National Grid about electricity supply capacity in the factory vicinity said until a request for supply was made, they couldn't say. No such request had been made yet. This being despite the factory construction progressing well.
There was a press notice on 4 Jan giving 21 days notice from that date for objection or comments. so now deadline is 25 Jan.
My new calculations use the commonly available google statements that each ton of food waste will produce around 300KWh of biogas.
Also, to produce 1 kwh of electricity requires 3 kwh biogas, 33% efficiency. My knowledgeable neighbour who is familiar with these generation plants says it is more likely a little under 40% efficiency. That means that 20GWh of biogas is needed for 8GWh electricity.
He also detailed some of the pollutants from the exhaust and the low frequency noise spectrum from the plant travelling quite a distance.
So, the site making annual total biogas production 90GWh required.
Using 300KWh per ton gives over 300,000 TONS PER ANNUM.
I cannot believe the conversion rate online is correct, not with that tonnage.
However, the stated 28 lorry loads a day could legally carry that axle weight, maybe not the M3 capacity though.
On another note, the application was validated 18 Dec 2023, meaning everything was checked as being in order for a valid application.
However, I have found several mistakes and need to speak to the planning officer concerned. Email can take up to 5 days to get a reply!
Our two ward councillors are hardly interested at all. One being a lady who visited us together with Sir John Hayes during her last local election campaign, spending 40 minutes drinking tea and chatting. Said she was busy working last weekend and would try to call on Monday. It is now Thursday.
We need their support to oppose this and a public meeting would be essential, but requiring a large hall to be hired.
Another important point is that it would be very difficult to site this AD any closer to the 3 town secondary schools, 2 primary and 1 special needs! There is just one primary school in town on the Western side.
This is as well as the thousands of residents living close by on the Eastern side.
Between the site and all the housing is the Coronation Channel, a wonderful elevated river bank walk together with wildlife and fresh air. Used by many people daily for exercise and especially dog walking. This being around 350M from the site.
A lot of my comments will form the basis of my objection. However, they must be kept very brief and to the point to have any notice taken of them.
Rob
I have spent well over 60 hours now on this subject doing research and compiling information.
An email was sent yesterday to Sir John Hayes our MP. Some of the following is addressed.
The almost built cabbage protein factory had no mention whatsoever in that application of needing an AD plant on the adjacent field to provide energy. If it had suggested that fact I am certain it would never been passed with it being so close to town, literally on the edge of the town boundary.
Seems a crafty move to me. Build the plant then say the AD is needed to provide energy and as £35M has already been spent, It MUST be approved.
However, the factory is not a huge energy guzzler and 8GWh AD p.a. would leave a huge surplus to sell to the grid.
The 70GWh biogas would also be sold to the grid.
Thus, making the AD plant an energy providing commercial business, using food wsste wherby a charge is levied for such disposal, but the planning persuasion emphasis being required for the adjacent factory energy requirement that uses cabbages grown by the applicant.
That is really stretching the point of any agricultural connection to the AD!
An enquiry I made a week ago to National Grid about electricity supply capacity in the factory vicinity said until a request for supply was made, they couldn't say. No such request had been made yet. This being despite the factory construction progressing well.
There was a press notice on 4 Jan giving 21 days notice from that date for objection or comments. so now deadline is 25 Jan.
My new calculations use the commonly available google statements that each ton of food waste will produce around 300KWh of biogas.
Also, to produce 1 kwh of electricity requires 3 kwh biogas, 33% efficiency. My knowledgeable neighbour who is familiar with these generation plants says it is more likely a little under 40% efficiency. That means that 20GWh of biogas is needed for 8GWh electricity.
He also detailed some of the pollutants from the exhaust and the low frequency noise spectrum from the plant travelling quite a distance.
So, the site making annual total biogas production 90GWh required.
Using 300KWh per ton gives over 300,000 TONS PER ANNUM.
I cannot believe the conversion rate online is correct, not with that tonnage.
However, the stated 28 lorry loads a day could legally carry that axle weight, maybe not the M3 capacity though.
On another note, the application was validated 18 Dec 2023, meaning everything was checked as being in order for a valid application.
However, I have found several mistakes and need to speak to the planning officer concerned. Email can take up to 5 days to get a reply!
Our two ward councillors are hardly interested at all. One being a lady who visited us together with Sir John Hayes during her last local election campaign, spending 40 minutes drinking tea and chatting. Said she was busy working last weekend and would try to call on Monday. It is now Thursday.
We need their support to oppose this and a public meeting would be essential, but requiring a large hall to be hired.
Another important point is that it would be very difficult to site this AD any closer to the 3 town secondary schools, 2 primary and 1 special needs! There is just one primary school in town on the Western side.
This is as well as the thousands of residents living close by on the Eastern side.
Between the site and all the housing is the Coronation Channel, a wonderful elevated river bank walk together with wildlife and fresh air. Used by many people daily for exercise and especially dog walking. This being around 350M from the site.
A lot of my comments will form the basis of my objection. However, they must be kept very brief and to the point to have any notice taken of them.
Rob
