Wood recycling firm Plevin has been notified that the Environment Agency (EA) has published for consultation a draft environmental permit for the company’s proposed biomass CHP (combined heat and power) plant at Elkesley.

The decision to publish a draft permit indicates that the EA is satisfied that the proposed facility will be environmentally safe.

If given the go-ahead, the carbon-neutral plant would be built at Plevin’s existing site at Elkesley.
A total of 16 full-time permanent jobs, including apprenticeships, would be created. There would also be opportunities for local firms to supply goods and services during the construction period.

The proposed facility would create green heat and electricity from waste wood, offsetting 25,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – equivalent to the combined annual CO2 output of 4,500 UK households.

It would use around 22,000 tonnes of waste wood, sourced mainly from local civic amenity sites. The waste wood would otherwise go to landfill.

Plevin intends to use electricity generated by the plant to power its existing manufacturing plant, as well as heat to dry the wood shavings made there.

Excess renewable electricity would be exported to the National Grid, for supply to households and businesses.

Managing director Jamie Plevin said: “We welcome this decision as it demonstrates the Environment Agency’s faith in our proposals.

“We are aware that there has been concern over the plant in some sections of the community. 
“Hopefully this will go some way to reassure residents that, if given the go-ahead, the biomass plant will be safe and environmentally friendly.”

The plant can only be built and operated once Plevin has secured both an environmental permit and planning permission.

A permit would ensure that the plant conforms to the highest possible environmental standards. 
It would regulate the impact of the plant on the environment by setting stringent conditions on the plant’s emissions to air, land and water.

Plevin is a family-owned business that has grown to become one of the UK’s leading wood recycling companies. The company collects, processes and distributes 600,000 tonnes of wood annually.
Plevin manufactures a wide range of sustainable products from virgin and waste wood materials.
The company is one of the biggest suppliers of animal bedding products in the country, with customers including supermarkets and pet wholesalers.

Earlier this year Plevin announced major growth plans after being awarded an exclusive contract by E.ON to supply waste timber for a £120m biomass-fired renewable energy plant at Blackburn Meadows, near Sheffield.