Barton Renewable Energy Plant
Blowing our way?

Proposals have been announced to build a 20MW biomass-fired power station on land adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal and close to the M60. The power plant would be designed to provide renewable energy for up to 37,000 homes – equivalent to more than one-third of the homes in Trafford.

The first emails began to arrive in August provoked by Peel Energy's plans to build a waste wood burning power-station on the banks of the Ship Canal in Davyhulme. The emails have piled up and a public meeting at Davyhulme was one of the best attended in recent years. In anticipation of the planning submission, we examine some of the issues and assess the impact of residents in Lostock, Stretford and Gorse Hill, areas that are downwind of the plant's site.

Peel Energy say the proposed plant would utilise the latest technology and would be fuelled primarily by recycled wood, virgin timber, energy crops and agricultural residues. It is proposed that a small element of solid recovered fuel* is also utilised to maintain fuel flexibility. About 200,000 tonnes of biomass would be consumed annually.

*Solid Recovered Fuel is treated municipal waste composed of paper, plastic and textiles. It is shredded, cleaned and dehydrated before use. Gtr Manchester is embracing the recovery of fuel from its waste via the UK's biggest PFI and plants such as this facility in East Manchester are coming on stream as early as 2011

Note

Councillor Walsh as a member of the planning committee will not be able to enter into debate on the pros and cons of a planning proposal as he is required to look objectively at the evidence put before the committee.