CONCERNS OVER £100m 'GREEN' POWER PLANT IN GLENAVY
LOCAL politicians have expressed concerns about plans by three of Northern Ireland's leading agri-food companies to build a £100 million power plant on the Ballyvannon Road near Glenavy which would be powered by chicken waste.
O'Kane Poultry Ltd, Moy Park Ltd, and Glenfarm Holdings Ltd say they are sending background information on the project to residents and businesses in the Glenavy area ahead of lodging a planning application, but they claim the government has already indicated its support in principle for the proposal.
The three have joined forces to create Rose Energy which wants to construct the 30 megawatt power generating plant, fuelled mainly by poultry bedding. It would be the equivalent of powering a town greater than the size of Ballymena.
As well as employing 30 people at the plant, they say the project would play a 'vital role' in safeguarding over 7,000 existing jobs in the poultry and agri-food sector.
But Lagan Valley MLA Paul Butler said local residents are 'anxious and apprehensive that Glenfarm Holdings along with the poultry industry will be allowed to expand its operation on the outskirts of Glenavy'.
"I would urge locals to engage in the consultation process announced by the company and to raise their concerns" he said.
South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said his office had been 'flooded' by concerned residents. He said there were fears about the traffic that would generated in the area and the smell that could be caused by the plant.
"The plans are certainly innovative and I welcome any initiative to get electricity from renewable sources," he said. "However I have misgivings and I believe the location is completely wrong. The 'fuel' is renewable, but I am very concerned about the potential emissions from this plant."
Mr Burns also called on Rose Energy to meet with local people quickly to hear their concerns.
Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea added: "Following the announcement by Rose Energy I have arranged a meeting with the company to discuss the proposals. I would welcome the views of all the residents affected by these proposals so that I can present these views to the company."
The new plant could deliver up to a third of Northern Ireland's target for 'despatchable' green energy - where the fuel source and the electricity produced can be maintained and guaranteed.
A spokesman for Rose Energy said similar plants have been built in Great Britain and claimed the proposal to use poultry bedding as a fuel source will remove a huge amount of material which previously would have been destined for land-spread.
The generating plant will also utilise the main by-product of Glenfarm's subsidiary company, Ulster Farm By Products Ltd, which renders by-products from the livestock industry into Meat and Bone Meal (MBM).The combined output of poultry bedding and MBM from the three companies will total around 250,000 tonnes of fuel material every year.
Rose Energy director, Mike Alcorn said, "This is an exciting project for Northern Ireland, using proven technology to deliver huge benefits to the province on two key fronts – improving the environment and generating renewable energy.
"The plant will provide an opportunity to use two valuable biomass fuel sources locally, which have for several years been used as fuel for similar plants in GB. Rose Energy represents a huge financial commitment, the majority of which is being privately funded. The relevant government departments are aware of our proposals and have indicated their support in principle. We are working closely with them to secure the remaining funding required to realise this project."
Depending on the success of the planning application, the directors hope the new facility will be operational by late 2010 or early 2011.
Further information on the project can be found at www.roseenergy.co.uk.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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