Greenham generator plans challenge biomass plant
Two unconnected plans proposed to use same land on business park
AN ENERGY company is seeking to erect an 1,800 sq m generator compound on the same land as a proposed biomass plant, which attracted a wave of opposition from Greenham residents and councillors last year.
In August last year, Torftech Energy submitted an application for a 0.8ha biomass gasifier on land south of Buckner Croke Way, Greenham Business Park.
Greenham Parish Council objected to the sustainable energy plant, amid fears of increased congestion and pollution, and criticism from residents about what they termed a lack of consultation.
West Berkshire Council is yet to make a decision on those plans, and now a rival application has been submitted for the same slice of Greenham by energy firm PeakGen Power Ltd.
The application is for a 1,800 sq m generator compound, to include a combination of 10 diesel and gas-fuelled generator sets, which will run for
between 100 and 200 hours a year and during peak periods of demand.
These will be stored with five diesel fuel tanks and five 400/33kV transformers and a further container to house equipment.
Plans also include a solar panel installation to provide power for on-site equipment.
Acoustic fencing would be included as part of the proposal, as well as two additional car parking spaces and one part-time employee, and there are expected to be around 10 lorry refuelling movements each year according to the applicant.
Applicant PeakGen states in its plans: “The plant will be used to supply electricity to the national grid, but only at times of very high system demand, or when unexpectedly there is insufficient ‘traditional’ generation available.”
Access to the site will be via the A339 and then along private roads within Greenham Business Park.
Greenham Parish Council objected to the plans last week citing insufficient information.
Speaking at a parish meeting last Wednesday, Julian Swift-Hook said: “We do need more information.
“There is nothing on that document which says what the generator is going to be used for.”
Gary Puffett agreed: “We need to find out what the auxiliary equipment is.”
Speaking of the simultaneous biomass application, vice chairman Chris Austin said that it was “effectively scrapped” as it was on the same site.
Of the new proposal, he added: “From the point of view of the park, a diesel generator is more reliable.
“We can imagine that the park wants auxiliary power, so if the national grid fails it would be an attractive thing to offer tenants.”
However Niels Overgaard, managing director of Torftech Energy, which brought the original biomass proposal last year, told the that the proposals were unconnected and the biomass application was still on the cards.
He said: “I can confirm the proposals are completely unconnected, are from separate companies and on different sites within the business park.
“In the meantime, we are pursuing our application for a biomass plant providing clean/renewable energy for Thatcham/Newbury.”
The application for the generator will next be considered by West Berkshire Council at a later date. Full plans can be viewed on the council’s planning portal under the reference number 15/01514/FUL.
