FUEL

1.        Why are you using wood as your fuel?

Wood is a renewable fuel that meets the criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive and is considered to be Carbon Neutral.  Recycled wood is found in abundance within the UK including the area surrounding the plant.  Its use in power generation not only reduces consumption of fossil fuels but also reduces the burden on landfill with the potential for release of methane as it decomposes.

2.        How much wood will the plant need each year?

Around 275,000 tonnes of recycled wood each year will be required to operate the plant.

3.        Why purely recycled wood?
 
 We have chosen to use only recycled wood that would otherwise go to landfill sites. This contains less moisture than fresh (or virgin) wood.  We therefore reduce the transportation of tonnes of water to the plant and so reduce the overall carbon footprint. 

4.        Can you take any type of wood?

As mentioned above we consider it most appropriate to use recyclable, rather than virgin, wood. The recyclable wood will be sorted prior to its arrival at the plant to remove the most contaminated wood (such as pressure treated wood: fence panels, railway sleepers, telegraph poles etc.). The plant will use recycled wood such as pallets, MDF and chipboard that would normally be sent to landfill for disposal. The plant will operate with the strictest adherence to emissions controls that will remove the effects of residual contamination from air emissions. 

5.        Can I bring my wood to you?

No, the wood recycler is responsible for processing the material before its delivery to the plant to ensure that it is suitable for use.

6.        How much will be stored on site at any one time?

We expect to store approximately 5 days (about 4,000 tonnes) of fuel needs on site to ensure security of supply of fuel to the plant. 

7.        Won’t that pose a fire hazard? What will you do to minimise the fire risk?

The storage will be isolated and monitored for potential combustion. The site will be staffed 24 hours a day and given that the stored fuel will be constantly moved through the process the fire risk from undisturbed storage is minimal.  We will also have an automated fire system in the unlikely event of a fire as required by the L.P.A.