Plans to build a new 22 megawatt power station in Westbury – big enough to power 10,000 homes – have been unveiled.
Northacre Renewable Energy, part of The Hills Group, is looking to build the multi-million pound renewable energy power station at Stephenson Road, between the Northacre Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) and Arla Foods Westbury Dairies.
It would operate 24 hours a day every day, and be capable of producing up to 22 megawatts of power per year, which will go to the National Grid and local businesses.
There will be a chance to view the plans at a public exhibition at Northacre Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) on Tuesday 4th November, from 2-8pm.
The power station will generate electricity by heating former household rubbish which has been processed into solid recovered fuels at Northacre RRC. These solid recovered fuels are currently shipped to Germany and Holland because there is not a local energy centre in Wiltshire.
If the new renewable energy plant is built in Westbury, solid recovered fuels can be heated using a thermal treatment technology called gasification.
This converts a blend of solid recovered fuels, combined with other commercial and industrial waste brought in by lorry, into a synthetic gas which will be used on-site to generate renewable electricity and potentially heat.
Northacre Renewable Energy hopes to help enable locally produced fuel to be used to generate local energy. As well as connecting a substation to the National Grid, the project will investigate supplying power to local businesses via private underground connections. The project also expects to create 40 new jobs in the town.
Northacre Renewable Energy director Mike Webster said, “This is an exciting opportunity to help meet local energy needs whilst managing local waste sustainably.
“We are creating a local circular economy; Wiltshire’s household waste is made into a SRF at Northacre RRC, and together with commercial and industrial waste destined for landfill, will supply the proposed Northacre Renewable Energy facility right next door which will in turn power local businesses.”
Northacre Renewable Energy say their emissions will be treated and carefully monitored by the Environment Agency. The company says there will be an odour abatement system in place and noise will be minimised through the building’s design, together with landscaping to provide screening from nearby buildings and neighbours.
Northacre Renewable Energy is aiming to submit its planning application to Wiltshire Council in December. Subject to permission, the centre would then be built in 2015/2016 with the facility fully operational in 2017.
Northacre Renewable Energy has opened its pre-application consultation and is welcoming comments from local businesses and residents. To find out more about the plans or leave your comments, go to www.hills-group.co.uk/northacre-energy/
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