Shropshire energy plans could power a whole village

Ambitious plans to build a large-scale renewable energy plant on a county farm could produce enough energy to power the homes of a whole Shropshire village, it was revealed today.

HF & NJ Williams & Sons have tabled plans for the anaerobic digester at Lea Hall Farm in Lea Hall, near Shrewsbury, which would produce enough electricity to supply 1,176 homes and operate 24 hours a day.

The 500kWe anaerobic digestion plan t would be used to process and manage up to 10,500 tonnes of feedstock comprising 7,500 tonnes of green energy crops and 3,000 tonnes of poultry manure each year.

It includes an AD digester tank, storage building, storage tank, transformer and substation and associated works.

If approved, the plans will 'ensure the longevity' of the arable farming business and electricity generated would be transmitted directly into the National Grid and enable more than 1,000 homes to be powered each year.

A summary statement on the planning application says: "The electricity would be transmitted directly into the National Grid via a high voltage connection.

"It is anticipated the facility will generate in the region of 4,161 MWhs of electricity per annum or enough to power 1,176 local households per annum.

"To put this into a local context, the Minsterley and Pontesbury and surrounding area place plan identifies 758 dwellings in Pontesbury – the main settlement within the parish of Pontesbury in which the plant will be located."

Local roads will see a 'small' increase in traffic on the back of the scheme, but the applicants say they are capable of handling this. And exhaust gas from the gas engines would be strictly monitored and limited to minimise any effect on air quality.

The plans are out to consultation and Shropshire Council hopes to make a decision by the end of September.