Energy from Waste CHP plant
Questions & Answers

In this section we will answer some of the most common questions that have been received from members of the local community in relation to the Energy from Waste CHP plant at Weston Point, Runcorn.

What is ‘Energy from Waste’?

Energy from Waste is a tried and tested technology that allows the recovery of energy from household waste (refuse) normally sent to landfill.  Our plant would be supplied with fuel generated from refuse that has been pre-treated where it is collected so that it can be burnt safely to produce energy.  This pre-treatment removes recyclable materials such as glass, plastic bottles, paper, wood, ceramics, cans and metals as well as removing moisture and other organic materials such as garden waste and food scraps.  After processing, almost three quarters of the waste will have been recycled/removed, leaving around one quarter that will form the fuel used to generate steam and electricity for use by INEOS at Runcorn Site.

Why do we need ‘Energy from Waste’ plants?

Developing Energy from Waste in the UK is very important to be able to effectively manage the waste we produce.  Under the EU Landfill Directive, which became law in the UK in 2003, all local authorities across the UK have been set tough targets by central government to reduce the amount of waste that they send to landfill.  Energy from Waste technology has strong environmental credentials in that waste can be diverted from landfill to create energy that would otherwise be generated from fossil fuels.  There are over 400 such plants operating across Europe, where this technology is more common.  In Switzerland, for example, almost 50% of household waste is reused to create energy, rather than be put into landfill.  This is compared to Britain, where less than 10% of waste is currently used in this way.

Is ‘Energy from Waste’ safe?

Yes.  Energy from Waste is a tried and tested technology that is already being used extensively in Europe in countries such as Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Sweden and Switzerland.  By law the plant must comply with the Waste Incineration Directive (WID).  This Directive, which applies across the whole of the European Union, details how the plant must be designed and operated and sets maximum emission levels that do not represent a risk to health.  In the UK, compliance with the Directive is enforced by the Environment Agency.

Why build the facility at Weston Point, Runcorn?

Runcorn Site uses the same amount of electricity as a city the size of Liverpool, so it is very important to the long-term future of our business to be able to look at alternative ways of producing energy that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels.

It is important that the proposed plant is located as close as possible to Runcorn Site.  This is because it is not efficient to transport steam as it starts to condense back to water if pipes are too long.   It is also very important that any potential site has good links to the local transport network including rail, road and water.  The chosen site at Weston Point meets these needs, and has the added advantage that it is already occupied by industry.

Where exactly will the plant be built?

The new plant will be built on land owned by INEOS at Weston Point.  The site is currently occupied by our engineering workshops and a training facility, which will be relocated to the main Runcorn Site.  No other areas of land in the area will be used for the proposed development. 

How big is the plant?

The Energy from Waste CHP plant will be able to produce up to 100 megawatts of electricity and 140 tonnes per hour of steam for use at Runcorn Site.  Once fully operational, this will provide us with around 20% of our total energy needs for the Site.  This energy will directly replace the energy that we currently produce using gas.  The plant will be able to process up to 850,000 tonnes of solid recovered fuel each year.

What will it look like?

The Energy from Waste CHP plant will be made up of a range of buildings and structures including a 47m [154ft] building and a 105m [344ft] stack (chimney).  The height of the stack is similar to the height of the existing stack at Weston Point Power Station.  Weston Point Power Station was closed in 2008 and this stack will be demolished at some point in the future.

Artist impression of Energy from Waste plant, with view from Pavilions

Where will the waste come from?

The Energy from Waste CHP plant is designed to handle fuel produced from pre-treated waste arising from local (waste disposal) authorities in the North West region. 

So isn’t this just burning rubbish?

No.  The fuel used by the Energy from Waste CHP plant will be produced from refuse that has had the recyclable content removed and has undergone a significant amount of pre-treatment.  Depending on where it comes from it can be delivered as small pellets, solid blocks or finely shredded material.  The fuel is dry and does not smell. 

What about pollution?

The Energy from Waste CHP plant will be covered by strict regulations set out in the Waste Incineration Directive (WID), which controls emissions from industrial processes.  We will also have to apply for an Environmental Permitting Regulations permit before we can operate the facility.  This permit requires the Company to provide evidence to the Environment Agency/Local Authority of the actions it will take to:

• reduce emission to land, air and water;

• prevent/reduce noise, odour and vibration;

• prevent/reduce waste;

• prevent/reduce environmental accidents;

• conserve Energy.

The Energy from Waste CHP plant will use the latest technology to reduce emissions to well within the relevant air quality standards set by law.  These standards ensure that there is no adverse impact on health or the environment.  The waste will have been pre-treated BEFORE it arrives at Runcorn, so there is no potential for odours to be created. 

Is it true that the plant will create dioxins?
 
Yes, but only a very small amount.   The advanced technology we will use in our plant will minimise the emission of dioxins to the surrounding environment to levels significantly below concentrations that could have any impact on the health of local people.  Our plant will be strictly regulated by the Environment Agency with regular monitoring and reporting of its environmental performance, including emissions, which will be available to the general public.

Almost any process that involves burning has the potential to create dioxins.  Everyday occurrences such as bonfires, wood or coal fires and even cigarettes release these substances.  To put this into context, data provided by the Government through the UK National Atmospheric Emission Inventory (NAEI) shows that in 2004 bonfire night alone created more than 24 times the dioxins emissions of all the refuse derived fuel plants operating in the UK over a full year.  Just 0.10% of the annual dioxins emissions were as a result of plants that burn municipal waste or fuel made from waste, compared with 2.4% for bonfire night. 

What waste will the plant produce and how will this be disposed of?

As with any industrial process, waste will be produced by the proposed plant.   These waste products will be managed and disposed of, as they are now, in accordance with stringent regulations and will not pose any hazard to health or the environment.  The Energy from Waste CHP plant will be designed to be very efficient, and to maximise the use of the fuel to create energy.  The majority of the waste produced by the plant is ash that is non-hazardous and therefore can be recycled, for example into road aggregates or building blocks.  We expect less than 10% of the incoming fuel used would be sent to landfill as waste.  INEOS has operated a licensed hazardous waste landfill in Halton for more than 30 years.

Will the plant be noisy?

The facility will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, which is the same as the other plants at Runcorn Site.  As part of our application we have looked at what noise may be generated during construction and operation of the facility.  All our equipment will be designed to meet strict noise control specifications and we will take all practical steps to ensure that noise levels are kept to a minimum.  Noise levels will be monitored both during construction and operation by the Local Authority to ensure that we do not exceed agreed limits and there will be no adverse effect on local residents. 

During construction there would be an increase in noise for short periods during the day and residents will be informed in advance of these activities and the likely duration.  During operation, our assessment has shown that there would be no significant increase in noise outside of the site, however the assessment did show that there could be a slight increase in background noise during the daytime for a small number of properties in the immediate area of the site, so our plans will include noise barriers to reduce this impact for the benefit of residents. 

What impact will there be on local roads?

Fuel for the Energy from Waste CHP plant will be delivered to the site by rail and road.  The plant is designed so that all of the fuel could be delivered by rail if that is the method chosen by the local authorities that will supply it - we expect that at least half of the fuel will be transported by rail.   In future, it may also be possible to transport some fuel by water as the site is located near to the Manchester Ship Canal. 

The Site is currently accessed via Mersey View Road, however a new road to serve the facility will be created off Picow Farm Road, bypassing the residential areas.  A traffic study has shown that there would be no significant impact on local roads.  The new road will also provide a new access to the INEOS Salt Plant, which will significantly reduce the number of HGVs travelling along Mersey View Road, South Parade and Sandy Lane.  It could also serve the development of the Port of Weston in the future.

What do you say to those local residents who are worried about the plant?

We recognise that there will be some concern about this facility in the local community, but we have an excellent track record of managing our developments in harmony our neighbours and we will ensure that this development is managed in the same way.   We will design our plant to minimise any impact on local people or the environment.  Details of how we will do this are provided in the Environmental Statement, which was an important part of our planning application.

We will continue to communicate with key stakeholders and manage our communications with the local community effectively to ensure that people have access to accurate information about the plant.  We welcome the opportunity to speak on an individual basis with anyone who has questions about our proposals.

Need more information?

If you have any questions about the Energy from Waste CHP plant you can contact:

Craig Welsh, Public Relations & Communications Manager
Telephone: FREEPHONE 0800 052 1190 (answer machine available after normal office hours)
Email: craig.welsh@ineos.com