A full planning application has been submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council to erect a new building at Gelliargwellt Uchaf, Gelligaer in order to combat odour emanating from the existing In-Vessel Compost Facility at the site. The submitted planning application seeks to allow Bryn Composting Ltd to upgrade the existing In-Vessel Compost Facility to allow for the full enclosure of the process whilst also providing for the generation of renewable heat and electricity from the incoming waste and manure from the adjacent dairy farm through a new Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility which will be housed within the proposed building. The waste material will then be processed by the existing In-Vessel Facility although it should be noted that the proposed development will not alter or increase the type or amount of material currently imported to the site which is regulated by the existing Waste Management Licences which are administered by the Environment Agency.
The proposed development will effectively replace the existing outdoor aerated static pile system that is currently being used to mature the compost generated by the In-Vessel Compost process. As a result, the combined processing of waste within the proposed Anaerobic Digestion Facility and the existing In-Vessel Compost Facility will exclusively occur indoors within the two buildings over an approximate 9-12 week period compared with the 2-3 week retention time currently being achieved using the existing In-Vessel Compost facility.
The planning application is supported by the following package of assessments and surveys which have been agreed with the Council’s Planning Officers in pre-application discussions:
* Odour Impact Assessment (Odour Monitoring Ireland, October 2009);
* Noise Assessment (Celtic Bio-Energy, November 2009);
* Facility Description Report (Celtic Bio-Energy, November 2009);
* Landscape and Visual Assessment (Anthony Jellard Associates, October 2009);
* Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Anthony Jellard Associates, November 2009);
* Transport Statement (Pinnacle Transportation, November 2009);
* Applicant’s Statement (Bryn Compost Ltd, December 2009); and
* Design and Access Statement (RPS, December 2009).
The proposed development will operate within the existing licensed tonnage for the facility, although the following additional advantages will also accrue:
(1) The proposed development will substantively address the odour issues that have been documented at the site. Specifically, it has been identified that the outdoor maturation of composted waste after a relatively short period of in-vessel processing (2-3 weeks) is resulting in odour emanating from the facility. Therefore, the extension of the retention time from 2-3 weeks to circa 9-12 weeks, together with the enclosure of operations within a building will have a dramatic impact on odorous emissions.
(2) The inclusion of a 6-8 week period of anaerobic digestion with the conversion of the gaseous emissions to biogas will not only allow for the generation of renewable heat and energy but will effectively eliminate odour from this stage of the process as the biogas will be thermally oxidised in a combined heat and power gas engine. This process is effective in removing circa 99.9% of odour from biogas produced from waste.
(3) It has been identified that in accordance with recent regional and national policy, domestic waste (ie: food waste and green waste) and farm manure should be anaerobically digested where possible in order that the biogas produced can be converted into renewable energy. It is therefore proposed that a combined heat and power plant is included within the new development that will convert the potential energy of the biogas into renewable electricity and heat. The renewable electricity will be fed into the national grid via a connection point at the adjacent farm. The renewable heat will be used on site to provide hot water and the hot air required to pasteurise the food waste in accordance with the Animal By-Product Regulations (ABPR). Overall, it has been estimated that the facility will contribute greater than 10,000 tonnes per year in carbon dioxide emission reductions compared with the alternative option of land filling of waste. This is equivalent to taking 1,400 cars off the road while providing enough renewable electricity to power approximately 2,400 homes based on average domestic electrical consumption figures for Wales. The mature and pasteurised compost which ultimately emerges from the process is ready for market use as a peat replacement product.
The proposed development consists of a portal frame building with a length of approximately 73m, a width of 57m and an overall height of 10.7m at the peak. The building accommodates a reception and transfer hall and 10 Anaerobic Digestion fermenters. The new development also includes for a biogas storage tank, associated effluent storage tanks and a Combined Heat and Power building. The existing In-Vessel composting building will operate in sequence with the proposed Anaerobic Digestion development.
The applicant forms part of the Bryn Group which operates a dairy farm, a quarry, a green waste facility, an in-vessel composting facility and a waste transfer station at the site and in the surrounding area. The Bryn Group currently employ 30 local people and if the project goes ahead it is anticipated that an additional 6 – 8 jobs would be created.
The planning application is available for inspection at the Council’s Planning Department in Pontllanfraith (by quoting reference number 09/0968/FULL) and representations are invited to be made direct to the Council in this regard. In addition, Bryn Compost Ltd are intending to hold a an exhibition and will notify you as soon as a date has been arranged to discuss the proposed development and also to answer any questions from residents and interested parties. Further information on these arrangements can be obtained direct from Bryn Compost Ltd on 01443 838121.
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