Growers seek straw-burning alternative to soaring gas costs

Glen Avon Growers, in Park Lane, Cottingham, is seeking planning permission to build two straw-burning boilers that would consume 20 bales a day.

The company’s agent says in a report to East Riding Council’s planning committee that the development is crucial to its survival.

It said: “Due to the increased and daily rising costs of gas and electricity, which are crippling local businesses and making it difficult to survive, it is proposed to install new cost-effective boilers, thus saving money and enabling the business to continue.”

However, the applicants are expected to have to overcome concerns raised by Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency about the potential risk of pollution to the local water supply if the project is to get the go-ahead.

The site lies within a “zone 1” groundwater source protection area, where water is drawn to supply large parts of Hull and the East Riding.

The report says such a development in this zone poses the “highest risk of pollution to groundwater and subsequently a significant risk to the public water supply and public health”.

But owner David Schellingerhout said talks were ongoing about these issues and was confident they would be resolved.

He said the facility, which would be used to heat the 10.5 acres of glasshouses at the site, which grows cucumbers and tomatoes, would be the first of its kind in the country.

He said: “The cost of domestic gas is going through the roof and we are in the same position. We burn a lot of gas and a lot of coal.

“The Government is pushing this big time and what we are planning would be the first of its kind in the UK.

“I’ve had to go to Europe to look at something similar. In Denmark it’s a standard source of energy but over here we are just starting to wake up to the possibility of burning straw.”

He added: “It’s a completely renewable source of energy; we would be growing extremely green cucumbers.”

The scheme is also being opposed by Skidby Parish Council, which is concerned about the number of vehicles which may be transporting straw through the parish, and the potential impact of residents from noise, dust and fumes from the site.

Highways officers say there would be no undue increase in traffic, however, and the loading, unloading and manoeuvring of vehicles would be done on site.

The report recommends the application is deferred to allow time for the water pollution concerns to be addressed, and approved if this issue is resolved.

Explaining this recommendation, the report concludes: “The proposed development would fully accord with renewable energy planning policies, which support this type of development.

“The development is relatively modest and would be acceptable with regard to highways issues and residential amenity.

“Visually, the building would be sited adjacent to existing buildings on the site and the chimneys would be sited well away from the nearest properties to the site, or the vantage points on the public highway.”

The application will be considered by councillors on Thursday.

Biomass is expected to make up about a third of the UK’s total renewable energy capability by 2020.

Businesses in the region are being urged to make the most of the opportunities presented by this emerging sector, particularly in the supply chain.

Industry experts will outline some of the openings in a conference being hosted by Bishop Burton College on October 20.

The Biorenewables in the Humber conference is being organised by Humber Chemical Focus and will cover issues such as current legislation and latest low carbon policies.