Welcome

Wind Turbines& Solar Farm Update

Nationally: What the Government are saying

• Eric Pickles issued new guidelines stating that local communities should have a greater say in planning decisions on Wind Turbines

• “We need to ensure that protecting the local environment is properly considered alongside the broader issues of protecting the global environment” Eric Pickles Secretary of State: July 2013

Locally: What is happening around us?

• 30 wind turbine applications currently in progress in and around Vale of Belvoir, 2 are in Orston.

• Of these 4 have been passed, 7 rejected and appealed by the developers, 19 are in process.

• Most recent submission is to Melton Borough Council for a Turbine at Bottesford (Easthorpe).

Response to first WT application in Orston

• RBC received a total of 215 responses• 5 letters of support were received• 210 letters of objection were received

Response to second WT application in Orston

• RBC received a total of 240 responses• 6 letters of support were received, • 234 letters of objection were received

Solar Farm

• Local Parish Councils have voted to support the proposed development including Orston Parish Council

• 7 letters of support were received, 2 of objection

• OSVAT issued a letter of support

Proposed Anaerobic Digester at Flawborough

What we will cover

• What is Anaerobic Digestion? • Is this really ‘Green’?• Overview of what is proposed?• What are the initial local implications?• What are the possible future implications?

What we will cover

• What is Anaerobic Digestion? • Is this really ‘Green’?• Overview of what is proposed?• What are the initial local implications?• What are the possible future implications?

Anaerobic digestion is the natural breakdown of organic materials into

methane, carbon dioxide gas and fertiliser

What is Anaerobic Digestion?

What is Anaerobically Digested?What is Anaerobically Digested?

Slurry & Manure

What is Anaerobically Digested?What is Anaerobically Digested?

What is Anaerobically Digested?

Crops & Residues

What is Anaerobic Digestion?

Food

What is the process post-construction?

Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough

• What is Anaerobic Digestion? • Is this really ‘Green’?• Overview of what is proposed?• What are the initial local implications?• What are the possible future implications?

This is really Green!

Is this really Green?

• Recycling any Waste is a GREAT idea

• IN THE RIGHT PLACE

• Converting any Waste into Energy is an even BETTER idea

• IN THE RIGHT PLACE

Which is really Waste?

Is this really Green?

Growing crops specifically to feed an AD?

This is not ‘WASTE’

•This is only financially viable because of subsidies

•It takes land currently used to produce Human and Animal feedstock

•It leads to increased imports of food

•The increase in traffic movements NEGATES environmental savings

Why is it being built?

…Because of the subsidy

How the subsidy works:

•It will receive the current Renewable Heat Incentive of 7.3p/kWh

•35,000t of whole crop will produce 38,000,000kWh* of gas per year

•The subsidy received will be £2,774,000 per year for 25 years!

Where does the subsidy come from?

•From the new carbon tax on existing fossil fuel power generators•The carbon tax is passed on to ‘Joe Public’ via higher bills•We are all paying for the subsidies to the developers - £118/yr

Why is it being built?

…Because of the subsidy

What are the local issues?

Construction•This is a big engineering project

Traffic Movements

•Massive increase in tractor/trailer movements •Tractors use diesel – NOT VERY GREEN

What are the local issues?

Smell

•Proposed - Wholecrop – the ‘Silage’ smell – but worse•Likely – any dairy or dairy products waste •Possible - Slurry – the accepted ‘Country’ smell•Possible - Food waste – the dreaded ‘Municipal tip’ smell

Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough

• What is Anaerobic Digestion? • Is this really ‘Green’?• Overview of what is proposed?• What are the initial local implications?• What are the possible future implications?

ThorotonThoroton

OrstonOrston

FlawboroughFlawborough

AlvertonAlverton

KilvingtonKilvington

AD PlantAD Plant

Overview of the proposed facility

Overview of the proposed facility

Anaerobic Digester installation at Flawborough

• What is Anaerobic Digestion? • Is this really ‘Green’?• Overview of what is proposed?• What are the initial local implications?• What are the possible future implications?

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What are the Local Implications?

Assuming the AD only uses locally sourced feedstock

•It will requires 35,000t of feedstock per annum

•25% from surrounding fields

•The feedstock could include Dairy/Poultry waste & products

•This equates to 8,786 heavy duty tractor movements in our area

•These will occur during a probably 3 month harvesting period

•We currently only ‘enjoy’ 3,000 movements over 12 months

The simple maths……

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Vehicle movements – feedstock in

feedstock in (tonnes) 35,000

load per tractor (tonnes) ÷ 13

vehicles in 2,692

vehicles out + 2,692

total vehicle movements = 5,384

Vehicle movements – digestate out

digestate out (tonnes) 28,000

load per tractor (tonnes) ÷ 13

vehicles out 2,154

vehicles in + 2,154

total vehicle movements = 4,308

Total vehicle movements

Feedstock in 5,384

Digestate out 4,308

total (gross) 9,692

less backhaul (33% of solid digestate) -286

less grain vehicles substituted -620

Additional vehicle movements 8,786

ThorotonThoroton

OrstonOrston

FlawboroughFlawborough

AlvertonAlverton

KilvingtonKilvington

AD PlantAD Plant

Additional vehicle movements per annum = 8,786Additional movements per week = 549*(*assumes 16 week period of operation)

EltonElton

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What are the Local Implications?

What are the Future Implications?

THERE IS A HIGH RISK THE PLANT WOULD RUN ON FOOD WASTE

•Disposal of Food Waste is a major concern for the UK •AD is a great solution for Food Waste – in the RIGHT location•The 5 AD’s originally spec’d for crop – 3 now take on food waste •Food waste includes animal carcasses not just sandwiches!

ROTTING FOOD WASTE STINKS

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What are the Future Implications?

Summary• Anaerobic digestion of waste is great idea….…in the right place• This is not digesting ‘Waste’ and is not the right place• Only the subsidies make it viable• Will lead to increased heavy traffic movements• 1000’s of acres of arable land turned to feedcrop• Could easily convert to run on food waste

OSVAT – Take Aways

• Construction of site

• Do you want an additional 8,786 traffic movements?

• Do you want the potential smell of the plant …

which would get worse if it converts to food waste?

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Discussion

Wind Turbines Solar Farm AD Plant

Visual Intrusion Height 74 metres Low intrusion 2.5m Height 12 metres

Potential Health Impact Flicker/Distraction Smell

L.T. Traffic Impact Extra 8786 tractor & trailer movements

Potential Safety Concerns Catastrophic Shearing Leakage/Explosion

Conversion of Arable Land <1 acre 60 acres 2000 acres

Impact on wildlife Can kill birds

Community/Heritage Impact

Conservation area Recreation impact

Visible from Belvoir Castle

Visible to Orston, Alverton, Flawb’h

Annual Energy output/acre 1,445MWh 192MWh 19MWh

Annual Co2 saving 670 tonnes 6,092 tonnes 10,000 tonnes

Value for Tax Payer 0.42MW/£1 0.89MW/£1 0.2MW/£1

p/KWh paid by tax payer 18.04p/KWh 6.85p/KWh 9.24/KWh

Other Considerations Property Prices Conversion to food waste?

Decision OBJECT SUPPORT TBC

ASSESSMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY APPLICATIONS

Ballot