Agenda item

Towards Zero Carbon Development in the West End

To set out the key issues associated with achieving large scale zero carbon development in the West End of the District. To provide an overview of the results of a recently completed feasibility study and to seek endorsement for the principle of submitting a funding application to the Heat Network Investment Programme.

Minutes:

Henry Gent had submitted two questions on this report prior to the meeting.

 

Question 1:  CO2 emissions from energy from waste

A recent report provided several estimates for the CO2 emissions from waste incinerators.  The average figure is 800 g CO2/KWhe.  Table 3 in the report from UKWIN (below) provides several examples of different estimates.

UKWIN-2018-Incineration-Climate-Change-Report.pdf

What is the figure used by WSP in the feasibility study when calculating the CO2 emissions by the proposed EfW Hill Barton power station in g CO2/kWhe ?

Answer

WSP (consultants) has not used a figure for emissions from the process of waste incineration in this report. 

 

Referring to DCC approved planning application, the Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment read out the Council’s environment officer submission to the application, which covered the extensive gas cleaning system to be incorporated in the efW plant and the ongoing maintenance and monitoring.

 

The Portfolio Holder stated he would research further information on emissions and respond to Mr Gent directly.

 

 

Question 2:  proportion of feedstock that will be fossil fuel based products

Of the waste feedstock to be burned at the EfW Hill Barton CHP station, what proportion will be fossil fuel based products?

Answer

The County Council acts as the Waste Disposal Authority and hence it determined the planning application for the EfW plant at Hill Barton.  The following is an extract from the relevant officer report;

“The energy generation process will utilise fibre fuel derived from commercial and industrial waste, commonly known as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). This fuel is typically composed of plastics, composites, textiles, and small amounts of wood, paper & cardboard, and is the residual material remaining after recyclable materials, metals and inert materials have been removed from the waste received at transfer stations and material recycling facilities such as the EMS facility at Hill Barton.”

 

The Service Lead Growth, Development and Prosperity set out the key issues associated with achieving large scale zero carbon development in the West End of the District. He provided an overview of the results of a recently completed feasibility study and sought endorsement for the principle of submitting a funding application to the Heat Network Investment Programme.

 

In response to a question about burning plastics, the Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment outlined how filtering systems within the stack of a plant deal with gases given off through burning, with checks by the Environment Agency to ensure these are fully operational.  He also added that he would like to see some flexibility to review any new technology in the field reviewed, as and when it arose, because of the timescales of delivery.

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

 

1.    Noted the findings of the feasibility study and the key issues associated with achieving zero carbon development at Cranbrook and Skypark.

2.    Endorsed the principle of submitting a funding bid to the Heat Network Investment Programme.

3.    Received a further report setting out a proposal for the role that Council could play in enabling the delivery of zero carbon development including the investment case.

 

REASON

To ensure that there was a clear pathway for achieving large scale zero carbon development in the West End of the District.

Supporting documents: