Dundee biomass plant crosses planning hurdle

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a massive biomass plant on Dundee’s waterfront have crossed a major planning hurdle with the publication of a report which claims the £325 million development will have a “negligible” impact on air pollution.

In February last year Forth Energy was forced to scrap plans for a similar “green energy” plant at Leith Docks in Edinburgh following a public outcry against the proposals.

But the company is now set to press ahead with plans for a biomass plant at Dundee’s King George V Wharf after commissioning an air quality assessment report which concludes that the proposed

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renewable energy plant will “not lead to any significant residual effect with respect to air quality” and that there is no reason, on air quality grounds, to prevent planning consent being granted.

The study was ordered in 2011 after Dundee City Council announced it would defer its position on the proposed plant until an air quality assessment had been completed. Scottish Government Ministers are expected to make a final decision on the development, which could generate 100 megawatts of electricity - the equivalent of 86 per cent of Dundee’s power needs - later this summer.

Emissions

Dundee City Council had asked that particular attention be given to the potential impact of emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the plant and associated operational road traffic movements.

The report, based on monitoring the air quality at 25 locations in the city over a 12 month period, concludes there is likely to be an increase in NO2 levels at only one location where the rise will be “negligible” and have no impact on the public health.

The maximum additional impact to NO2 would be the equivalent of a person using a gas cooker instead of an electric cooker to prepare regular meals for about 12 days in a year.

The report states: “The forecasting to 2017 indicates that there will be slight exceedences of the air quality objective for NO2 at some locations and the renewable energy plant will only lead to an additional

exceedence at one location. Where the plant is forecast to lead to an exceedence at this one location, the increase is defined as negligible (i.e. less than one per cent of the air quality objective and of no concern in air quality or health terms).

“The renewable energy plant contributes only a very small additional amount, which is not considered to have any potential health impacts. “

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It continues:The results show that, at its highest potential level, just 0.98 micrograms per cubic metre would be added to airborne concentrations of NO2. On this basis, there is no air quality impact that should prevent consent from being granted.”

The report adds: “An assessment of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions was also carried out as required by Dundee City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee following their initial consideration of the application.

Air quality

“This assessment showed that emissions to air of SO2 from the Renewable Energy Plant are not considered to have any significant impact on sensitive locations in the vicinity of the site. In addition, it is anticipated that the Renewable Energy Plant would help reduce the SO2 emission levels of nearby industrial users through the supply of heat.”

Calum Wilson, the managing director of Forth Energy, welcomed the findings.

He said: “Forth Energy has carried out extensive and robust air quality monitoring at 25 locations across Dundee over a twelve month period. The results of the monitoring show that the impact from the plant and associated traffic on Dundee’s air quality would be negligible.

“We are satisfied that there is no reason, on air quality grounds, to prevent consent for the plant being granted. The plant would support the establishment of a renewables manufacturing hub at the port. It would support the city’s ambitious development plans. And it would help put Dundee on the map as a low carbon city.”

Carbon

Forth Energy claims the plant, which will burn one million tonnes of wood a year, will save 2.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions and create 70 long-term jobs

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We are aware that this was coming and have been working with Forth Energy on the air quality assessment figures to make sure that they are up to date, accurate and valid.

“We are looking forward to the submission coming to us from the Scottish Government in our position as a statutory consultee.”

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