Giant concrete silos to store biomass plant fuel
SIXTEEN towering concrete silos could be built at Royal Portbury Dock to store pellets to fuel biomass plants across the country.
Bristol Port Company has applied to North Somerset Council for permission to build up to 16 of the concrete silos which would measure 50 metres high by 30 metres wide and each hold 15,000 tonnes of wood pellets.
Initially the port company had been considering housing the pellets in a large 35 metre high building, but has now decided that the silos are more appropriate. The silos would be used to store pellets for energy companies across the UK.
It is understood that the energy companies would import pellets by sea into the dock from North and South America. Once at the plant the pellets would be transferred from the silo by conveyors to a new rail loading area and then transported to power stations across the country by rail.
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Initially eight of the silos would be built during the first phase which would take 70 weeks. A further eight would then be built as part of phase two.
Because the port company already has a deemed consent to develop on the site, a full planning application does not need to be submitted.
But the scheme has prompted concern from nearby parish councillors who say the silos would be a "blot on the landscape".
Portbury Parish Council chairman, Pete Cooke, said: "These silos will be very large and high structures and would have a massive visual impact on the local environment.
"They are going to be made out of concrete and undoubtedly be a real blot on the landscape.
"We want an environmental impact study before any development goes ahead because of the dust problems already encountered from the pellet processing plant at Avonmouth.
"If the scheme gets the green light it will also bring a great deal more traffic onto junction 19.
"The junction has been working well since the improvements and to bring additional traffic onto it is complete madness."
Portbury Parish Council has now written to neighbouring Easton- in-Gordano Parish Council to gain its views on the scheme.
Mr Cooke added: "We want to get the views of residents in Easton- in-Gordano before deciding what action to take and whether we can work together to raise objections to the scheme."
The scheme is in line with a Government's objective to reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels.
The application comes just months after the Government gave permission for a new biomass power station to be built at the dock.
Bristol Port Company spokeswoman Sue Turner said: "We are working through the technical options for the storing and transporting of wood pellets.
"The scheme is still in the very early stages.
"We are always interested in constructive discussions with Portbury Parish Council.
"We are also aware of the sensitivities around junction 19 and will take this into consideration."
Comments
by roly12345
Thursday, June 14 2012, 1:31AM
“The residents of Avonmouth are being slowly eradicated by a very similar product, but this is stored in the open air, no fancy silos just lung busting piles of decrepit wood filth that dries out and gets carried on the breeze.
Think yourself lucky they have enough respect for your health that they put it in a silo.”
by Stagnate
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 8:29AM
“Sorry, the Spiller flour mill is at Avonmouth NOT Portishead as I previously stated.”
by Ollie20
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 12:19AM
“Not to put a dampener on this "GREAT IDEA" But;
Not only are these silo's a BLOT on our beautiful and loved North Somerset landscape. It also brings a some moral questions (which maybe someone can answer) to hand:
Firstly: Is the used of Boimass power stations legally binding EU air quality standards?
Is a boimass power station a sustainable resource?
If so? Why do we have to import the fuel and store it?
Is this boimass coming from South American (and other nations) trees? aren't these some of the few places that we should be trying to keep (in a global way) some trees before they are all chopped down.
Is this just another stupid quick fix to a real power resource problem?
Brazil is a country that has almost 10X our population, and they make almost half their power from a single Hydroelectric power station. We don't have the same amount of water in the uk(allot of rain) but its about time we started to be resourceful.
I'm not saying we can do the same as Brazil, but its about time we took this problem seriously. why don't start looking into some long term solutions for our power issues, instead of buying other nations chopped down (air proving) trees to fuel our ever growing need for electricity?
As well as cut our energy needs down to a sustainable real amount!!!!!
(sorry for the spelling :)”
by Ollie20
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 12:17AM
“Not to put a dampener on this "GREAT IDEA" But;
Not only these silo's this be a BLOT on our beautiful and loved North Somerset landscape. It also brings a some moral questions (which maybe someone can answer) to hand:
Firstly: Is the used of Boimass power stations legally binding EU air quality standards?
Is a boimass power station a sustainable resource?
If so? Why do we have to import the full and store it?
Is this boimass coming from South American (and other nations) trees? aren't these some of the few places that we should be trying to keep (in a global way) some trees before they are all chopped down.
Is this just another stupid quick fix to a real power resource problem?
Brazil is a country that has almost 10X our population, and they make almost half their power from a single Hydroelectric power station. We don't have the same amount of water in the uk(allot of rain) but its about time we started to be resourceful.
I'm not saying we can do the same as Brazil, but its about time we took this problem seriously. why don't start looking into some long term solutions for our power issues, instead of buying other nations chopped down (air proving) trees to fuel our ever growing need for electricity?
As well as cut our energy needs down to a sustainable real amount!!!!!”
by Stagnate
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 5:17PM
“As a resident who lives within sight of the port I have to agree with the comment by 'Spiggett'.
The port was here when we moved in as was the railway line so we expect port and rail activity. What the port authorities are proposing is a natural progression in the evolution of the ports' business.
If local views were taken into consideration over every development that has ocurred over the past hundreds of years then we would still be living in the stone age with any development fiercely opposed by those who felt their quality of life was being infringed upon.
As for the silos being a blot on the landscape as suggested by some parish councillors. That can be said of the car transporting ships that use the port or the Spillers flour mill at Portishead, both are equally obtrusive to the eye but have become an accepted part of the landscape.
I say that the proposal should go ahead but, if local parish councillors want to, let them register their objections.
If they are that concerned about the area why aren't they more vocal about the Portishead rail line?”
by Spiggett
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 1:59PM
“This is an industrial area which already has "giant" cranes, if you live by the Port (as some of us do) you kind of expect it!(-Just as you would expect planes at an airport, but that's another story...)”