Planning Permission For New Renewable Energy Facility

14 October 2010

Dorset-based New Earth Energy has been granted planning permission by Bristol City Council for a low-carbon renewable energy facility, alongside the New Earth Solutions mechanical and biological waste treatment facility at Avonmouth, Bristol. The energy facility will be built next year and will commence power generation in 2012.

The facility will use gasification and pyrolysis technology to convert waste-derived, biomass-rich fuel, consisting of materials otherwise destined for landfill, into gas to power electricity-generating engines. New Earth Solutions has a contract with the West of England Partnership to treat over 120,000 tonnes of residual household waste a year, starting in April 2011. The energy facility, which will generate 7.5MW of electricity, is underpinned by the waste stream this contract provides.

Robert Asquith, New Earth planning director, said: "This decision reinforces our underlying belief that pyrolysis and gasification are technologies that will significantly boost the UK's renewable energy offering. There have been several energy proposals brought forward for the area but we bring something new and the decision to grant planning, where others have been refused, proves we have a distinctly different offering. Our solution promotes the value of recycling and, being co-located with the waste treatment facility, minimises traffic movements and helps contribute to the landfill diversion targets the West of England Partnership want to achieve."

Gemma Howard