Backing urged for wood-burning power station to create city jobs

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, one of the biggest names in green energy, Denmark-based Dong, wants to build the 100m complex on land to the east of Queen Elizabeth Dock on the banks of the Humber.

Because of the sheer size of the scheme, the Secretary of State will have the final say on whether planning consent is granted for the development on the site, which includes a public right of way, mudflats and a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.However, Hull Council leaders will be recommended at a Cabinet meeting next Monday to back the scheme because it will be good for the city.

Many local jobs would be created, not only at the biomass power station itself, but down on the docks where raw materials would be landed. There would also be spin-off benefits to local firms.

Hull Council leader Coun Carl Minns has already said he hopes the development, which could be operating by 2016, will help Hull establish itself as the "green centre of the energy in the region".

Now the city council's head of economic development, Mark Jones, has concluded: "The biomass plant would be significant development for the city and would strengthen the city's role in the renewables and logistics sector, which is welcome.

"The proposal would comply with the council priorities which seek to improve the quality of Hull's business infrastructure by creating a pipeline of employment sites and premises to support the growth of existing businesses and the creation of new businesses.

"Additionally the proposal would improve the competitiveness of two of the three identified key economic growth sectors, the port and logistics sector and the emerging renewable sector."

His report underlined there is no objection to the scheme in principle because port related development at Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Dock is supporting by local planning policies.

The harbour side of Hull's economy would also benefit because, if granted, the scheme would include a jetty so ships could deliver wood chips to the biomass plant.

Energy to supply half a million homes via the National Grid would be generated by burning wood chippings in a boiler to create heat to produce high pressure steam, which turns a turbine – just like a conventional power station.

The site is nearly four miles east of Hull city centre and surrounded by industrial development, much of which is associated with the port. The nearest houses are on the north side of Hedon Road (A1033), just over half a mile away.

Mr Jones adds: "The power station would be designed so that the steam or heat could be supplied to customers on the nearby industrial area, or possibly to a future district heating system, which could increase the overall efficiency."

The fuel would be around two million tonnes per year of woodchips and wood pellets from sustainable sources, such as forestry and agricultural, most of it shipped from abroad.

Burning it would produce hot gases and ashes, including fly ash.

"The project would use the best available techniques to treat the gases and ashes so that they would not represent any risk to local people or the environment and would dispose of any residues responsibly," added Mr Jones.

The daily average number of people employed on site would be around 75. "It hoped that many of these would be local jobs, and representations should seek to secure this," he said.