Forth Energy Biomass Projects

Stakeholder Engagement Group

Meeting 01 (15/03/2010) – Minutes

Attendees

Name / Organisation
Kay Griffin / SKM
Craig Wallace / Jones Lang LaSalle
Chris Wilcock / SG Ports and Harbours Division
Catherine Devlin / Falkirk Council
Lorraine Brown / SG Energy Consents and Deployment
Christine McKay / SG Renewable Strategy Team
Rebecca Carr / Forestry Commission Scotland
Rosie Leven / SG Directorate for the Built Environment
Mary Stewart / Fife Council
Angela Burke / SEPA
Michaela Sullivan / Forth Energy
Helen Wood / SG Directorate for the Built Environment
Iain Ross / Dundee City Council
Niall Corbett / Scottish Natural Heritage
Rachel Brooks / Dundee City Council
Kevin Ryan / Edinburgh City Council
Simon Coote / SG Energy Consents and Deployment
Stuart McKay / SG Energy Consents and Deployment
Natalie Crooks / Forth Energy
David Bell / Jones Lang LaSalle
Andrew Campbell / Edinburgh City Council
Lesley McNeil / SG Energy Consents and Deployment

Minutes

Forth Energy gave a brief presentation on the four projects covering the policy drivers, sustainability etc. Submission of the four applications is due this summer beginning with Dundee.

  1. Discussion Point 1 – Are all 4 plants necessary?

The plants are designed to be the optimum size to accommodate fuel storage, loading offloading etc. Keeping larger plants fired is problematic so there is no benefit to making applications for less plants of a larger size.

  1. Discussion Point 2 – When do Forth Energy need to have the fuel supply contracts in place in order to understand whether the projects are viable?

Once Forth Energy have consent they will talk to fuel suppliers and would not commence construction until they know where their fuel will be coming from. This is some way down the line at this stage.

  1. Discussion Point 3 – At what stage will ECDU and the Local Planning Authorities be able to consider the size and shape of the plant?

Basic massing and dimensions will be provided and an LVIA will be conducted on the maximum parameters for the application . An architect will be involved post-consent to finalise the cladding/transparency etc etc. What will be provided in the application will be a ‘worst-case scenario’, an architect will always be able to approve its appearance.

  1. Discussion Point 4 – Fuel types – is there any plans to use waste as fuel?

Forth Energy have excluded the use of refuse-derived fuels but are considering waste wood, paper and cardboard which still require an energy from waste licence.

  1. Discussion Point 5 – Will Forth Energy move to refuse-derived fuel if there is difficulty obtaining the fuel source of its choice?

No – the boilers are designed to run on one type of fuel and it would either not work at all or would greatly reduce its efficiency. Forth Energy are confident they can obtain the fuel, they wouldn’t progress with these applications if they weren’t. Flexibility in fuel and site layout will be required to allow the decision between wood chips (stored in silos) and wood pellets (stored in a-frames) to be made in due course but this will still be wood-based biomass and will not affect the environmental assessment.

  1. Discussion Point 6 – How well developed are the heat plans?

Heat users have been identified on each site but heat is like fuel and Forth Energy cannot enter into an agreement to supply heat until they are in a position to supply this heat. Discussions ongoing at each site but this matter needs to remain flexible at this stage.

  1. Discussion Point 7 – will the plants be future-proofed to make them heat ready?

Yes, they will be heat-ready and GIS heat mapping has already been completed.

  1. Discussion Point 8 – International fuel-sourcing – is there an international standard on sustainability criteria?

No – DECC have a working group and there is EU criteria and various international agreements in place. All EU countries can set their own criteria.

  1. Discussion Point 9 – if sourcing within Scotland becomes available are there plans to factor this in?

Yes – a percentage of fuel is allowed to be delivered by truck – this will allow Scottish supply. At the moment Forestry Commission pointed out that the fuel required would equate to the entire harvest of Scotland and FC targets are for 25% forest cover for Scotland. Biomass fuel needs 10-15 years to grow before it can be chipped.

  1. Discussion Point 10 – different designs will have an impact on flu gasses – will different designs be laid out in the ES?

No decision made as of yet but will be working on various lay-outs.

  1. Discussion Point 11 – Permitted Development rights – there is a ‘minded to consent’ for 15,000 homes at Leith docks which needs Forth Ports to sign off on the legal agreement. Should this be agreed will this remove Forth Port’s Permitted Development Rights?

No – these are only extinguished at detailed design stage and when Forth ports have extended port operations. They can continue using PDR because there is an estimated 10-15 years build out rate and for the biomass site this is expected to be 40 years – ie they could built the plant, fire for its whole life and demolish it and they still won’t have begun construction on the new houses.

  1. Discussion Point 12 – If Forth Energy enter into a contract to provide heat how could fulfil this is there is a breakdown?

Two boilers would mean greater security of supply but Forth Energy are likely to go with one main boiler so customers must have their own speculative supply.

  1. Discussion Point 13 – Will there be enough information in the design massing for A+DS to make an assessment?

Forth Energy’s preference wold be for the LPA’s to meet with their architects at this stage and move to A+DS at a later date.

  1. Discussion Point 14 – Will there be a community benefit package?

There is no precedence of this in DECC consents but Forth Energy are willing to discuss.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the stakeholder group would take place in late April in Glasgow.