Super biomass plant gets go-ahead from Environment Agency

The controversial plant, which is costing £400 million, has the potential to power half a million Welsh homes and, for the first time, it has been granted a licence on the basis that all wood used at the plant is from sustainable sources, because of concerns about the plant's effect on the local environment.

The Environment Agency said it had conducted a lengthy evaluation process and discussions with local people after taking advice from the Local Health Board on strict emissions limits to protect human health. Some residents have grave concerns regarding emissions from the wood-burning process from such a large plant in an already industrialised region.

Under the Environment Agency's strict permit, the Prenergy plant will have produce electricity with 50 to 80 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than gas or coal fired power stations.

Steve Brown, Environment Agency Wales Area manager, said: “We have spent a great deal of time carefully evaluating this application and taking on board the views of local people. As a result we have produced a permit designed to ensure the continued protection of people and the local environment [...] We are confident that this power station meets the requirements of the current regulations governing its operation and that a permit can be issued.”

Prenergy Power director Matthew Carse said he was pleased with the decision, which he said would create jobs and boost the economy in the region. "We will continue to progress our proposals to build the renewable energy plant and create many new local jobs during the construction period – as many as 850 at its peak," he said. "In addition, there will be around 150 full-time jobs when the plant is operational in 2012 and further employment opportunities in companies servicing the plant. The importation of woodchip fuel from guaranteed certified sustainable sources will also assist the long-term viability of Port Talbot Docks."

The Port Talbot Residents Against Power Stations (PT-RAPS), however, condemned the decision. “We are still of the opinion that this licence should have been refused. Port Talbot already breaks the UK limit on carcinogenic Benzo[a]Pyrenes [...] Allowing further emissions in an area that already exceeds safe limits is ludicrous. The right decision would have been to refuse a licence.”

Planning permission for the plant was given by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) (now Department of Energy and Climate Change, DECC) in November 2007.

The permit for the Prenergy plant comes just weeks after a smaller, 14 MW was officially opened in Port Talbot.