Welcome
Wind Turbines
& Solar Farm Update
Nationally: What the Government are saying
• Eric Pickles issued new guidelines stating that local
communities should have a greater say in planning
decisions on Wind Turbines
• “We need to ensure that protecting the local
environment is properly considered alongside the
broader issues of protecting the global environment”
Eric Pickles Secretary of State: July 2013
Locally: What is happening around us?
• 30 wind turbine applications currently in progress in
and around Vale of Belvoir, 2 are in Orston.
• Of these 4 have been passed, 7 rejected and
appealed by the developers, 19 are in process.
• Most recent submission is to Melton Borough
Council for a Turbine at Bottesford (Easthorpe).
Response to first WT application in Orston
• RBC received a total of 215 responses
• 5 letters of support were received
• 210 letters of objection were received
Response to second WT application in Orston
• RBC received a total of 240 responses
• 6 letters of support were received,
• 234 letters of objection were received
Solar Farm
• Local Parish Councils have voted to support
the proposed development including Orston
Parish Council
• 7 letters of support were received, 2 of
objection
• OSVAT issued a letter of support
Proposed Anaerobic Digester
at Flawborough
What we will cover
• What is Anaerobic Digestion?
•
•
•
•
Is this really ‘Green’?
Overview of what is proposed?
What are the initial local implications?
What are the possible future implications?
What we will cover
• What is Anaerobic Digestion?
•
•
•
•
Is this really ‘Green’?
Overview of what is proposed?
What are the initial local implications?
What are the possible future implications?
What is Anaerobic Digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is the natural
breakdown of organic materials into
methane, carbon dioxide gas and fertiliser
What is Anaerobically Digested?
Slurry & Manure
What is Anaerobically Digested?
What is Anaerobically Digested?
Crops & Residues
What is Anaerobic Digestion?
Food
What is the process post-construction?
Fuel
Gathered
& Stored
Digestate
Produced
AD tank
filled
Gas
produced
Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough
• What is Anaerobic Digestion?
•
•
•
•
Is this really ‘Green’?
Overview of what is proposed?
What are the initial local implications?
What are the possible future implications?
This is really Green!
Is this really Green?
• Recycling any Waste is a GREAT idea
• IN THE RIGHT PLACE
• Converting any Waste into Energy is an even BETTER idea
• IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Which is really Waste?
Is this really Green?
Growing crops specifically to feed an AD?
This is not ‘WASTE’
•This is only financially viable because of subsidies
•It takes land currently used to produce Human and Animal feedstock
•It leads to increased imports of food
•The increase in traffic movements NEGATES environmental savings
Why is it being built?
…Because of the subsidy
How the subsidy works:
•It will receive the current Renewable Heat Incentive of 7.3p/kWh
•35,000t of whole crop will produce 38,000,000kWh* of gas per year
•The subsidy received will be £2,774,000 per year for 25 years!
Why is it being built?
…Because of the subsidy
Where does the subsidy come from?
•From the new carbon tax on existing fossil fuel power generators
•The carbon tax is passed on to ‘Joe Public’ via higher bills
•We are all paying for the subsidies to the developers - £118/yr
What are the local issues?
Construction
•This is a big engineering project
Traffic Movements
•Massive increase in tractor/trailer movements
•Tractors use diesel – NOT VERY GREEN
What are the local issues?
Smell
•Proposed - Wholecrop – the ‘Silage’ smell – but worse
•Likely – any dairy or dairy products waste
•Possible - Slurry – the accepted ‘Country’ smell
•Possible - Food waste – the dreaded ‘Municipal tip’ smell
Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough
• What is Anaerobic Digestion?
•
•
•
•
Is this really ‘Green’?
Overview of what is proposed?
What are the initial local implications?
What are the possible future implications?
Flawborough
Thoroton
Kilvington
Alverton
Orston
AD Plant
Overview of the proposed facility
Overview of the proposed facility
Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough
• What is Anaerobic Digestion?
•
•
•
•
Is this really ‘Green’?
Overview of what is proposed?
What are the initial local implications?
What are the possible future implications?
29
What are the Local Implications?
Assuming the AD only uses locally sourced feedstock
•It will requires 35,000t of feedstock per annum
•25% from surrounding fields
•The feedstock could include Dairy/Poultry waste & products
•This equates to 8,786 heavy duty tractor movements in our area
•These will occur during a probably 3 month harvesting period
•We currently only ‘enjoy’ 3,000 movements over 12 months
The simple maths……
30
Vehicle movements – feedstock in
feedstock in (tonnes)
load per tractor (tonnes)
35,000
÷
vehicles in
13
2,692
vehicles out
+
2,692
total vehicle movements
=
5,384
Vehicle movements – digestate out
digestate out (tonnes)
load per tractor (tonnes)
28,000
÷
vehicles out
13
2,154
vehicles in
+
2,154
total vehicle movements
=
4,308
Total vehicle movements
Feedstock in
5,384
Digestate out
4,308
total (gross)
9,692
less backhaul (33% of solid digestate)
-286
less grain vehicles substituted
-620
Additional vehicle movements
8,786
Flawborough
Thoroton
Kilvington
Alverton
Orston
AD Plant
Elton
Additional vehicle movements per annum = 8,786
Additional movements per week = 549*
(*assumes 16 week period of operation)
What are the Local Implications?
35
What are the Future Implications?
THERE IS A HIGH RISK THE PLANT WOULD RUN ON FOOD WASTE
•Disposal of Food Waste is a major concern for the UK
•AD is a great solution for Food Waste – in the RIGHT location
•The 5 AD’s originally spec’d for crop – 3 now take on food waste
•Food waste includes animal carcasses not just sandwiches!
ROTTING FOOD WASTE STINKS
36
What are the Future Implications?
37
Summary
• Anaerobic digestion of waste is great idea….
…in the right place
• This is not digesting ‘Waste’ and is not the right place
• Only the subsidies make it viable
• Will lead to increased heavy traffic movements
• 1000’s of acres of arable land turned to feedcrop
• Could easily convert to run on food waste
OSVAT – Take Aways
• Construction of site
• Do you want an additional 8,786 traffic movements?
• Do you want the potential smell of the plant …
which would get worse if it converts to food waste?
39
Discussion
ASSESSMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY APPLICATIONS
Wind Turbines
Visual Intrusion
Height 74 metres
Potential Health Impact
Flicker/Distraction
Solar Farm
AD Plant
Low intrusion 2.5m Height 12 metres
Smell
L.T. Traffic Impact
Extra 8786 tractor &
trailer movements
Potential Safety Concerns Catastrophic Shearing
Leakage/Explosion
Conversion of Arable Land
<1 acre
Impact on wildlife
Can kill birds
Community/Heritage
Impact
Conservation area
Recreation impact
Visible from Belvoir Visible to Orston,
Alverton, Flawb’h
Castle
Annual Energy output/acre
1,445MWh
192MWh
19MWh
Annual Co2 saving
670 tonnes
6,092 tonnes
10,000 tonnes
Value for Tax Payer
0.42MW/£1
0.89MW/£1
0.2MW/£1
p/KWh paid by tax payer
18.04p/KWh
6.85p/KWh
9.24/KWh
Other Considerations
Property Prices
Decision
OBJECT
60 acres
2000 acres
Conversion to food
waste?
SUPPORT
TBC
Ballot