Plans to develop anaerobic digestion (AD), biomass, and solar farm facilities at Eco Sustainable Solutions headquarters in Parley, Dorset, were unveiled to the public on Friday (July 12).
The planned developments would work alongside current operations at the site, which include an In-Vessel Composting (IVC), open-windrow composting, waste wood recycling and turf production.
Planning permission has been submitted for the 7 million AD plant, which would be capable of processing 45,000 tonnes of food waste and maize each year. Eco is currently in talks to take feedstock from several local authorities in the area.
Eco is currently engaged in conversation with financial investors and the facility is slated for completion in 2015. The AD plant will heat the feedstock using excess heat generated from the planned on-site biomass plant and produce 4.4 million cubic metres of gas straight to the national grid, part of which passes through the Parley site.
Anaerobic Digestion
It will be Ecos second AD plant, following the opening in September 2012 of its 3.3 million facility in Piddlehinton, West Dorset, which is capable of taking 15,000 tonnes of organic waste each year including food waste and pig slurry from Dorset county council, New Earth Solutions and Viridors Somerset operations (see letsrecycle.com story).
Meanwhile, the 16 million biomass plant has already received planning permission and construction is due to start next year before it becomes operational in 2015. Fuelled by 25,000 tonnes of commercial and municipal low-grade waste wood per year from the south of England, the plant will generate 3MW of electricity, which is enough to power 2,000 homes each year.
The company has also drawn up plans to build a 173-acre solar farm at the Parley site with an output of nearly 36MW per year. Eco is currently in the midst of seeking planning permission for all of the moveable solar frames, which will also enable farm animals to graze the land underneath.
Odour
Additionally, following concerns from the Environment Agency about odour levels, Eco has also been granted planning permission for a 2 million revamp of its IVC, due for completion next year.
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Commenting on the IVC changes, Eco Sustainable Solutions managing director, Trelawney Dampney, said: It will completely take odour away from the IVC facility it will be to all intents and purposes 95-100% odour-free.
Local residents, Poole borough council workers and the Mayor of Bournemouth, Rodney Cooper, were among visitors to Ecos Parley facility last week, at which more than 250,000 tonnes of organic material is processed every year.
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