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Peel Energy has today submitted a planning application to Cheshire West & Chester Council for a proposed 20MW wood fuelled power plant at Ince Park. If granted permission the plant would use recycled wood to generate enough renewable electricity to meet the average needs of 37,000 homes. It would also produce steam and hot water that could be used by local businesses.
Ince Park was granted outline planning consent in August 2009 to play host toa variety of recycling, environmental and waste technologies and is owned by Ince Park LLP – a joint venture between Peel Environmental and Covanta Energy.
This detailed planning application is for part of the site that already has permission for the production of biofuels from waste wood. The decision was made to instead propose a biomass energy plant as this better compliments the mix of other proposals for the site, including the consented timber recycling facility.
Submission of the application follows detailed environmental assessments which considered the impact of the plant on the local area and consultation with statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency. Planning officers at the Council will now commence their own consultation on the plans and invite comments from the general public.
In April last year, Peel Energy revealed its plans to the Ince Park Community Forum and then made a more detailed presentation in September when members of all the local Parish Councils were also invited to attend.
Development Manager Jonathan Burley said “Now the application issubmitted we will be going back to the Community forum to discuss the changes we made to the application following consultation, and to answer any questions that the forum members might have at this stage. The planning application documents will be made available on the Peel Energy website and are also available from the Council. We would urge people who appreciate the importance of supporting renewable energy development in the region to look at the proposals and give their views to the Council.”
As well as generating renewable electricity from wood that might otherwise end up in landfill, helping to secure energy supplies, and helping the UK to meet its climate change and carbon dioxide reduction targets, the plant would create around 17 full time permanent jobs in a variety of managerial, technical, manual and administrative roles. There would also be many opportunities for local businesses both during construction and operation.
If Peel Energy is successful in receiving planning permission, building would be scheduled to begin in 2012 with the plant being fully operational in 2014.
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