A PLANNING application has been submitted for a £20m renewable power plant which would use left-over food to produce enough electricity to light up the whole of Selby.
Whites Renewable Energy, of Grantham, has applied to North Yorkshire County Council to use the former Tate and Lyle citric acid plant in Denison Road, Selby.
The eight-acre Selby Renewable Energy Park would create 120 jobs, 40 directly and 80 indi
rectly. It would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power 10,800 homes via the National Grid.
The plant would use the latest technology for treating organic waste, particularly food waste, by using anaerobic digestion. This involves sealing off organic matter in containers with no oxygen and breaking it down into a gas used to generate power.
Whites managing director David Balderson said: "Anaerobic digestion is widely recognised by the Government and Friends of the Earth as one of the best solutions for disposing of organic waste.
"Everyone wins, as the waste is treated in a sealed process reducing the generation of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. A clean, renewable fuel is produced which can be used to create electricity and heat."
The plant will also provide a potential low-cost heat source for local businesses. An anaerobic digester already exists on the site. It is being updated and the proposal is to build two similar pieces of equipment.
Mr Balderson added: "This project will provide a significant boost to the local economy by creating jobs and will also make available a cheap non-fossil fuel heat source that will attract businesses to the area."
The project has been welcomed by Future Energy Yorkshire, an arm of Yorkshire Forward, which promotes renewable energy projects.
Future Energy project manager Jo Adlard said: "The proposed Selby Renewable Energy Park will contribute to our regional emissions reduction targets by generating renewable energy for export to the National Grid, while diverting large quantities of waste from landfill."
A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman confirmed that the planning application had been received and said a 28 day consultation period would begin this week.
He said: "The likelihood is that it will go to the planning committee in May."
