Application made for Stonehall biomass plant

AN application has been made for the development of a bioenergy plant at a 3.5 hectare site in Stonehall. At the moment the site in question is owned by the Shannon Airport Authority, who have consented to Carbon Sole Group Limited making the application.

Back in 2012, Clare County Council voted to rezone land to allow Carbon Sole to develop a green energy faciity in the Stonehall area, despite strong local opposition. While no objections to the new proposal have been lodged to date, it would certainly not be a surprise if that changes before the November 3 deadline for submissions.

Among the items that would be included in the development would be a biomass processing and storage area utilising forestry products, a Gasification and Methanation Plant for the production of advanced biofuels, a Gasificaiton and Combined Heat Power Plant, a thermal energy recovery and storage facility and a new 38kV substation. In essence the new development would see bioenergy produced through burning biomass fuel.

The application says “Biomass fuels come from organic material such as forest harvest residues. Bioenergy is a low carbon renewable energy that can be used to replace carbon intensive fossil fuels.”

It says that the proposed development would use forestry by products for fuel, with around 71,000 tonnes of dry biomass woodchip fuel used to generate 32MW of energy per year. The applicants claim that it would be a very environmentally friendly development. “The proposed development does not contain any element, which will produce greenhouse gaseous emissions or odorous emissions. The calculated carbon footprint of the Proposed Development represents a relatively small percentage of the predicted overall CO2 offset. In overall terms the Proposed Development will offset CO2 emission reductions of 67,486 tonnes per annum which equates to over 1,000,000 tonnes of CO2 savings over 15 years.

“The Development will be vital to Ireland maintaining and building upon progress towards its renewable energy and climate change targets. Sources of renewable energy that are utilised locally with minimal impact on the environment are necessary to meet the challenges of the future.”

The applicants say that the facility would be significant nationally and with a town with a large amount of industry adjacent, the site is very suitable. “The development will contribute to supplying the demand for renewable energy, which in the context of the ongoing climate emergency is an urgent Irish national priority that must be given significant weight given the wealth of supporting national and international policy.

“The development is likely to provide a multi-million euro benefit to both the Irish and local economies. Overall, it is considered that the development is in accordance with national policy, the County Development Plan and all relevant material considerations. Shannon has significant potential in the context of developing a low carbon economy. The agglomeration of enterprise, industry, commercial interests & residential in the Shannon area are suitably located to avail of a future energy network that can provide sustainable low carbon energy security.”

Outlining where the development would be, it added, “The development site comprises an area of approximately 3.5 hectares in the townland of Stonehall, circa 1.5 km north of Shannon Airport, Co Clare. The proposed development will be located on a greenfield site which is zoned for Enterprise (including Bioenergy) in the Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018. The site is accessed from the R472 road to the east of the site and a third-class road to L-3169-0 to the southern boundary. The site is bounded to the west, north and east by agricultural fields and agricultural buildings to the south. The site terrain is a mixture grassland and hedgerows. The general topography of the site is flat ranging from 7-8.5 mOD. Access to the site is good with direct access to the primary road network. The site also has a strategic location in close proximity to the Airport lands and Shannon Free Zone.”

Other sites were assessed prior to the current one being chosen, and it said at one point a larger development had been envisaged. “The project proposals has evolved since the original inception of the project. The scale of the project has reduced significantly to a more modest operation. After three years of examining the suitability of various sites along the west coast, Shannon was chosen as the preferred/ favoured location.”

Explaining part of the reason for the selection of the site, the application said, “The preferred site is zoned for enterprise purposes in the Shannon Local Area Plan. In terms of planning policy the proposal is considered to be an appropriate use for the site. The Shannon site is in a premium location for Bioenergy Eco-Parks with District Heating Networks (DHN) due to linear heat concentration, adjacent to large industrial, commercial, and public sector thermal energy consumers and proximity to biomass supply. The site is located adjacent to Shannon Airport, Industrial and Business Parks and is therefore ideally placed for such a use.”

Around 30 jobs would be created at the facility, according to the application and it said it would be good for the area. “Carbon Sole Group Shannon Bioenergy Park will facilitate regional development. It is an anchor investment in sustainability and growth, attracting further employment, foreign and domestic investment in Shannon through meeting corporate social responsibility to reduce carbon footprint. This development delivers the green energy objectives of EU, National, Regional, County and Local plans and policies.”

It added, “Bioenergy is needed, in particular, for reducing emissions from air transport and shipping and as a backup fuel for road transport as more electric cars are introduced. The use of forest industry by-products, such as bark, forestry waste, recycled wood, straw or other biomass as raw materials does not impact on the carbon sink effect of forests, and they do not compete against forest industry raw material procurement or food production. The construction of the development will also positively contribute to Clare and the wider economy bringing investment and jobs that will help to support and retain confidence in the key regional industries of construction and renewable energy.”

It claimed that the construction phase of the development would take around 15 months