Pictured: Jamie Plevin
Plans for a small-scale renewable energy plant in
Nottinghamshire have taken a step forward.
Wood recycling firm Plevin has been notified that the
Environment Agency (EA) has published for consultation a draft
environmental permit for the company's proposed biomass CHP
(combined heat and power) plant at Elkesley.
The decision to publish a draft permit indicates that the EA is
satisfied that the proposed facility will be environmentally
safe.
If given the go-ahead, the carbon-neutral plant would be built
at Plevin's existing site at Elkesley.
A total of 16 full-time permanent jobs, including
apprenticeships, would be created. There would also be
opportunities for local firms to supply goods and services during
the construction period.
The proposed facility would create green heat and electricity
from waste wood, offsetting 25,000 tonnes of CO2 a year -
equivalent to the combined annual CO2 output of 4,500 UK
households.
It would use around 22,000 tonnes of waste wood, sourced mainly
from local civic amenity sites. The waste wood would otherwise go
to landfill.
Plevin intends to use electricity generated by the plant to
power its existing manufacturing plant, as well as heat to dry the
wood shavings made there.
Excess renewable electricity would be exported to the National
Grid, for supply to households and businesses.
Managing director Jamie Plevin said: "We welcome this decision
as it demonstrates the Environment Agency's faith in our
proposals.
"We are aware that there has been concern over the plant in some
sections of the community.
"Hopefully this will go some way to reassure residents that, if
given the go-ahead, the biomass plant will be safe and
environmentally friendly."
The plant can only be built and operated once Plevin has secured
both an environmental permit and planning permission.
A permit would ensure that the plant conforms to the highest
possible environmental standards.
It would regulate the impact of the plant on the environment by
setting stringent conditions on the plant's emissions to air, land
and water.
Plevin is a family-owned business that has grown to become one
of the UK's leading wood recycling companies. The company collects,
processes and distributes 600,000 tonnes of wood annually.
Plevin manufactures a wide range of sustainable products from
virgin and waste wood materials.
The company is one of the biggest suppliers of animal bedding
products in the country, with customers including supermarkets and
pet wholesalers.
Earlier this year Plevin announced major growth plans after
being awarded an exclusive contract by E.ON to supply waste timber
for a £120m biomass-fired renewable energy plant at Blackburn
Meadows, near Sheffield.