CHP Plant
Renewable Energy
Many of the oils and meals that we produce are used as vital ingredients to generate renewable energy in the biodiesel and biofuel industries. We also own three 2.3 megawatt wind turbines in Yorkshire that generate and provide power for the National Grid, while enabling us to offset our own energy use.
We are also currently developing our own biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant at our Newark site, which will provide steam for our operating processes along with electricity which will be used on-site, with any excess going to the National Grid. This CHP site will ensure we have the lowest carbon footprint of anyone in our industry across Europe.
In fact, once our CHP plant is operative, 99% of our electricity will come from renewable sources. We are already proud to say that 99% of the water that we use in our processing is recycled.
About the Project
JG Pears is developing a proposal for a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant to provide steam and electricity to its animal rendering facility at Low Marnham, Newark, Nottinghamshire. It will also generate renewable energy, exporting its excess electrical power to the National Grid.
The facility will replace over 90 per cent of the fossil fuels currently used in the rendering process with meat and bone meal (MBM), a sustainable alternative that has a calorific value of the same magnitude as coal, saving over 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. MBM can also be sourced more locally than the fuels currently used, which in turn reduces carbon emissions from transport and transport miles.
Planning permission for the proposal was granted in 2014 .
The importance of animal rendering
JG Pears animal rendering facility has a vital role in the agricultural and agri-food industries. It is one of just four rendering facilities in the UK, and it has become the most important facility for poultry by-product processing.
Prior to the 1970s most towns had a factory for processing animal by-products, however, during that decade, these factories were consolidated, reducing the number of operators in the UK to just 19.
Rendering is now a small industry with only four facilities remaining in the UK. But whilst the number of operators has dropped, the demand for the industry has not changed. Tallow, for instance, which is produced in the rendering process, is in high demand for its use in biofuels.
Combined Heat & Power
This Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility will help keep the facility at Low Marnham competitive. The rendering process is energy intensive and, at present, the site uses liquefied natural gas to fuel the operation but this is economically unstable and environmentally unsustainable. The current site has no mains energy connections and the cost to bring mains gas on site would be over £10m. CHP facilities of this kind provide an ideal solution to ‘off grid’ industrial sites.
What's happened so far?
Bassetlaw District Council initially refused JG Pears planning permission for the CHP facility but the Department for Communities and Local Government overturned the discussion following a successful appeal.
What happens next?
The proposals are currently being finalised, however, greater certainty around the Government’s future energy policy is crucial. In particular, the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme is an important factor which is currently under review by government.
The detailed timeline is as follows:
December 2011
JG Pears submits a planning application for a CHP facility to Bassetlaw District Council.
April 2013
Bassetlaw District Council refuse the planning application on the grounds of visual impact.
July 2013
JG Pears submit and appeal for the planning application on the grounds of supporting economic growth, increased business efficiency, support of rural industries and renewable energy supporting national interests.
January 2014
Public local enquiry takes place.
October 2014
JG Pears wins its appeal to overturn the planning application refusal. The Department for Communities and Local Government grant planning consent.
Energy...
Energy - The Technology
MBM has less odour than other biomass fuels and a high calorific value – that is, a lot of heating power – which makes it a highly suitable fuel for combustion to produce electricity. As a byproduct of animal rendering (the process through which animal products are converted into more useful materials), MBM is a plentiful, renewable biomass fuel.
There are three existing MBM combustion facilities in the UK, at Widnes, Rushden and Glanford.
Why is this scheme different?
High levels of energy efficiency are possible from the combustion of MBM and the proposed plant and energy utilisation will qualify the electricity as renewable and “good quality CHP”, a key factor in renewable energy generation.
The facility will also contribute the UK’s energy needs by generating 7MWe. The plant will use 2MWe and the excess or around 5MWe will be exported to the National Grid.
Scheme Outline The Proposal
The CHP plant will include a fuel reception area, fuel storage, boiler, turbine, auxiliary boiler, ash house and a control building. There is also the provision of new offices, a security lodge, a tank farm and rationalised access, additional parking provision and improved site boundary control. Planning permission has been obtained for vehicle trailer storage and a workshop.
Under the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control regulations, the CHP Plant will require an additional permit so that it complies with strict European air quality limits.
The fuel will be combusted to raise steam which will drive a high pressure steam turbine to produce electricity. Most of the low pressure steam will be used in a heat exchanger as part of the rendering process to pre-heat feed water and air for the boiler plant to improve plant efficiency
Doing things better
to benefit everyone.
FAQs
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is the UK government’s long-term financial support programme for renewable heat and is crucial for making developments and new technologies viable. In a non-domestic setting, participants in the scheme receive subsidiaries for generating and using renewable energy to heat their buildings.
Established to increase the use of heat generation from renewable sources, the RHI reduces dependence on fossil fuels. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps to meet targets for mitigating the effects of climate change.
Replacing the Low Carbon Building Programme, the RHI was created under the Energy Act 2008 and the first RHI payments were made in 2011.