June 2010

New Earth Energy Ltd Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility

Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary

June 2010 A planning application for the development of a Low Carbon Energy Facility at the former Britannia Zinc Site in Avonmouth has been submitted. An Environmental Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. Schedule 4 of those regulations requires that a summary of the Environmental Statement is provided in non technical language. This document forms the Non Technical Summary to satisfy these requirements.

This report was produced by Atkins Limited for New Earth Energy Ltd (NEE) for the specific purpose of supporting the planning application. It may not be used by any person other than NEE without NEE’s express permission. In any event, Atkins accepts no liability for any costs, liabilities or losses arising as a result of the use of, or reliance upon, the contents of this report by any person other than NEE.

Atkins Limited

Document History

JOB NUMBER: 5081924 DOCUMENT REF: Avonmouth LowCEF Non-Technical Summary

1 Final for issue KO LS SW JAS June 10

0 Draft for client review KO LS SW JAS June 10

Revision Purpose Description Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date

Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility Environmental Statement - Non Technical Summary

June 2010

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Introduction New Earth Energy Ltd (NEE) is proposing to develop a Low Carbon Energy Facility (LowCEF) on the former Britannia Zinc site in Avonmouth. The proposed facility will process between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes of pre-prepared feedstock each year. The feedstock will be made from processed residual non-hazardous waste (non-hazardous waste that has already been through a recovery process) at the adjacent Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility.

The proposed facility will have the capacity to generate around 7MWe (Mega Watts of electricity) of low carbon power through the pyrolysis (intense heating without the presence of oxygen) and gasification (intense heating with controlled addition of oxygen) of the feedstock.

The proposed LowCEF development site forms part of a larger site benefiting from planning permission granted to New Earth Solutions (NES) in 2009 (reference 10/00958/X) for a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility. Phase 1 of the MBT facility is currently undergoing construction and will be operational in April 2011. The proposed LowCEF directly overlays the footprint of the consented MBT phase 2 building and will be of similar dimension and construction.

The LowCEF facility will be constructed in two phases and will utilise pre-prepared feedstock made at the adjacent MBT facility.

Figure 1 shows the location of the application site.

Site remediation commenced in February 2010 in preparation for construction of the adjacent MBT facility. It is anticipated that construction of the LowCEF would commence in 2011, and take approximately twelve months.

The Applicant

New Earth Solutions Group Ltd (NESG) is the parent company of New Earth Solutions Ltd (NES) and New Earth Energy Ltd (NEE) (the applicant). NESG is a pioneering waste management and renewable energy business based in Verwood, Dorset. It provides sustainable waste management services to councils and other public sector bodies and businesses in the UK.

NESG operate a Mechanical Biological Treatment In-Vessel Composting (MBT IVC) facility in Canford, Poole as well as two fully enclosed

composting facilities in Blaise, Kent and Sharpness, Gloucestershire.

NEE has been formed to develop and install Advanced Thermal Conversion (ATC) technologies to generate renewable and low carbon energy to complement NESG’s existing plants and to maximise landfill diversion.

The Need for the Development

European and UK legislation sets targets for local authorities to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste they send to landfill. By 2020, the authorities must have significantly reduced the amount of such waste from current levels or they will face very heavy fines.

The West of England Waste Partnership proposes the development of a network of waste management facilities with the capacity to recover approximately 220,000 tonnes of residual municipal waste (mixed ‘black bin’ waste from households) and approximately 280-310,000 tonnes of residual commercial and industrial waste (similar waster streams from office and factories) a year by 2013.

The West of England Partnership have chosen the MBT technology employed by NES to help meet these targets and the proposed LowCEF will complement this facility by further extending the range of waste recovery options and diverting more waste away from landfill.

Prior to the proposal to develop the LowCEF, the residual fraction from the MBT process (containing material that cannot readily be recycled or composted in the available time) was destined for disposal by means of landfill or mass burn incineration. By providing both materials recovery and energy recovery treatment on the same site, NESG will be able to meet the principal objectives of sustainable waste management.

In addition, in producing low carbon and renewable energy, the proposed LowCEF will help to reduce reliance on energy generation from conventional fossil fuel burning power stations.

The Alternatives Considered

NEE has undertaken an assessment of alternative sites and technologies suitable for treating the residual fraction from the MBT facility. The alternative sites considered included those identified by the West of England Waste Partnership as part of the development of their

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Core Waste Strategy. The conclusion of the alternative sites assessment is that, by virtue of proximity and associated reduced environmental impacts associated with not transporting the residual fraction elsewhere, the co-location of the LowCEF with the MBT facility represents the best option.

Alternative technologies have been considered within the context of sustainable residual waste management provision and the production of renewable and low carbon energy. Furthermore the assessment has specifically evaluated those technologies that complement the MBT process in maximising the diversion of Biodegradable Municipal Waste from landfill. The conclusion is that the use of Advanced Thermal Treatment is the best option for recovering value from the residual fraction from the MBT facility.

The Site and Its Setting The application site is situated within the Avonmouth Industrial Area approximately 9.5km north west of Bristol City Centre. It is located on the former Britannia Zinc works site which is now referred to as the Access 18 commercial development.

The site is approximately 2.7ha of brownfield land, within a larger area currently consented for development of an MBT facility. The proposed LowCEF building will occupy the area of the site currently consented as Phase 2 of the MBT facility. The surrounding land use is dominated by past and present industrial and commercial activities.

Remediation works commenced at the site in February 2010 in preparation for construction of

the MBT facility. The MBT facility is planned to be operational by 1st April.

Avonmouth Demolition

The former zinc smelting works that were located on the site have contaminated the underlying ground with heavy metals associated with the smelting processes. These contaminants are largely contained in the underlying Made Ground (ground constructed by man) which comprises residues of the former smelter processes. The Made Ground is underlain by the Tidal Flat deposits of clay, silt and sand which in turn is underlain by the solid geology of the Mercia Mudstone Group.

Three groundwater regimes exist at the site associated with each of the above geological strata. Shallow groundwater is present within the Made Ground, this groundwater is contaminated. Groundwater is also present within the Tidal Flat deposits and the Mercia Mudstone Group which is classified as a non-aquifer (a formation regarded as containing insignificant quantities of groundwater).

The contamination at the site has had an adverse impact on the water quality of the surrounding environment. There is an extensive rhine (ditch) system in the local area. The northern boundary of the site is formed by Kings Western Rhine

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(west) which is an artificially lined channel which flows into the larger rhine network and ultimately the River Severn Estuary. Kings Weston Landfill lies to the immediate south of the site, dominating the immediate area

The closest ‘Greenfield’ area to the site is approximately 800m to the east. The nearest residential receptor is approximately 1km to the south on the A4034/A4 St Andrews Gate Roundabout.

The River Severn Estuary is located approximately 1km to the north-west of the site at its closest point and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and as an important wetland under the Ramsar Convention. These designations relate to the important habitats that the estuary provides and the species that the habitats support.

Other watercourses in the area include the River Avon, approximately 1.8km to the south of the site and the extensive rhine network which ultimately flows into the Severn Estuary.

Description of the Proposals The layout of the proposed LowCEF is illustrated in Figure 2, with the key identifying the proposed use of the different areas of the site.

The facility will be constructed in two equal phases. It is anticipated that construction of Phase 1 will commence in 2011 and take approximately 12 months. The buildings have been designed to be functional whilst remaining in keeping architecturally with the surrounding landscape and the adjacent MBT facility.

The proposed facility will have the capacity to process 80,000 – 100,000 tonnes pre-prepared feedstock per annum. The facility will operate under an Environmental Permit (EP) from the Environment Agency (EA). The Permit will provide limits on discharges to air, land and water associated with the operation of the facility.

The pre-prepared feedstock is manufactured from reject materials from the adjacent MBT facility.

The adjacent MBT facility mechanically sorts the waste into fractions that can either be recycled or composted to produce a Compost Like Output for use in land reclamation. Any remaining waste will

be rejected and will provide the feedstock for the proposed LowCEF.

The rejected material is likely to include material that is not readily recyclable or compostable in the available time frame and is therefore not suitable for the MBT facility. It is also likely to include oversized material that is not suitable for a Compost Like Output from the back end screening of the MBT facility.

The feedstock will be manufactured to a set specification and will still contain a high proportion of biomass material. If it was not manufactured to form a pre-prepared feedstock this material would be destined for off-site disposal in landfill or by means of mass burn incineration. The development of the LowCEF will not affect the recovery of recyclable materials, such as metals and plastics, nor production of a Compost Like Output (CLO), for use in land restoration and / or remediation schemes.

The pre-prepared feedstock will be transferred from the MBT facility to the LowCEF by a fully enclosed conveyor between the two buildings. The pre-prepared feedstock would then be mechanically fed through an airless drier to reduce moisture content.

Pyrolysis Stage

Dried feedstock is then fed into the pyrolysis units. These units will heat the feedstock to approximately 1200oC in the absence of oxygen. This breaks down the feedstock into High Energy Fuel Gas (HEFG) and a solid carbon rich bio-char (solid residue), all of which is then fed through to the gasification stage.

Gasification Stage

Within the gasification stage, high temperature steam is injected into the gasification unit together with a limited amount of oxygen. This converts the solid bio-char into HEFG, with a particulate ash residue produced. The ash residue will be removed and taken off-site for either disposal or re-use where possible.

The HEFG is then fed into a thermal oxidiser operating at around 1,200oC. Sufficient air is fed into the thermal oxidiser to ensure that there is complete oxidation of all the gases and the design ensures that these gases, as well as any small particulate matter that passes through to the oxidation stage, will remain at 1200oC for at least

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2 seconds. These conditions ensure that emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere are minimised.

Energy Recovery

High temperature gas from the thermal oxidiser will be used as heat to both the pyrolysis stage and the steam boiler unit. In the boiler the temperature is rapidly reduced to below 250oC by transfer of the heat energy in the gas to steam.

High pressure steam from within the boiler unit will drive a steam turbine turbo-alternator set to generate circa 7MW of electricity. The LowCEF could also export heat, although the balance between heat and electricity generation will depend on the commercial market.

The electricity generated will supply the local distribution network, but owing to the immediate demand in Avonmouth, it is unlikely to be exported to the national grid. The local distribution network presents an efficient means of meeting local needs without the transmission losses that occur in the national grid.

A Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) will be installed on the exhaust, recording real time data to ensure that the emissions limits are met.

Process products of the LowCEF are residues from the gas cleaning process and particulate ash from the gasification process. These will be managed in accordance with the Environmental Permit. Heat generated will be captured effectively and utilised by returning it to the early stages of the process.

Schematic diagram of processes

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The Assessment of the Potential Environmental Effects The LowCEF will operate under an Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency.

The Permit will provide limits on discharges to air, land and water associated with the operation of the facility.

An application for an Environmental Permit will be submitted shortly after the planning application.

The potential environmental impacts during the construction and operation of the LowCEF have been assessed. While several measures to minimise these impacts are incorporated into the design of the facility, the assessment identified additional measures which are detailed in this summary.

With these measures in place, there will be some long term beneficial effects on the environment once the facility is operational. These benefits are largely due to the improvements in surface water and shallow groundwater quality, the development of a derelict site and ecological enhancement.

Air Quality

The air quality assessment has evaluated the potential effects of the proposed LowCEF on the local environment during both construction and operation.

The plant utilises a pre-prepared feedstock derived HEFG combusted in an oxidiser, to raise steam in a boiler. The steam is used both in the advanced thermal process and to generate electrical energy. The steam boiler exhaust gases pass through particulate filters and acid gas removal treatments prior to discharge via the stack, the main emissions from which are oxides of nitrogen. There are also lesser quantities of sulphur dioxide emitted.

The proposed LowCEF will operate under an Environment Agency Permit. The Environment Agency will only issue a Permit if it is satisfied that the proposed facility will adhere to strict emission limits for discharges to the atmosphere. Thereafter the operator will be required to monitor discharges to the atmosphere and submit records to the Environment Agency demonstrating compliance.

The closest residential properties to the proposed LowCEF are in Avonmouth Village, at a distance of approximately 1km from the site boundary. The nearest designated ecological site is the Severn Estuary which includes areas of saltmarsh habitat that are potentially sensitive to elevated concentrations of oxides of nitrogen. The air quality in the area is currently good, perhaps reflecting the coastal location and prevailing wind direction. The background annual average nitrogen dioxide concentration is well below the UK regulatory limit, and the measured sulphur dioxide concentrations are extremely low.

The air quality assessment used computer dispersion modelling to determine the effects of the proposed LowCEF emissions on local air quality. The modelled short-term and long-term ground level concentrations were evaluated in the context of the national air quality objectives. The study demonstrates that the effects of the emissions are relatively localised. The highest concentrations occur close to the site within the local industrial area.

Taking into account the existing background air quality, both the long-term and short-term nitrogen dioxide concentrations will remain well below the UK regulatory limits at all residential receptors. Short-term sulphur dioxide concentrations will remain less than a tenth of the regulatory limits. The effect of the proposed LowCEF emissions on local air quality is considered to be negligible.

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© Crown copyright, All rights reserved. 2010 Licence number 0100031673

Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility Environmental Statement - Non Technical Summary

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Local ecological sites were evaluated in the context of air quality criteria for the protection of vegetation and for nitrogen deposition on specific habitats. The contribution to oxides of nitrogen concentrations at the Severn Estuary due to the proposed LowCEF emissions is less than one percent, a negligible contribution. The proposed LowCEF contribution to background concentrations at the other designated ecological sites at the Avon Gorge and Horseshoe Bend is even lower. The rate of nitrogen deposition at the Severn Estuary due to the proposed LowCEF emissions was found to be less than half a percent of the existing background deposition rate. There would be no effect on saltmarsh habitat at the Severn Estuary.

The potential cumulative effects of the proposed LowCEF in combination with other proposed energy facilities in the Avonmouth area have also been evaluated. It is concluded that there will be no adverse effects on local air quality were the other currently proposed facilities to operate concurrently with the proposed LowCEF.

Noise and Vibration

The site construction and operational noise impacts have been assessed at the nearest residential and commercially noise-sensitive receivers to the site – approximately 1 km and 95m distance from the site boundary respectively. Vibration impact assessment, however, has been scoped out on account that it will not be a perceptible issue due to the distances involved.

Attended sampled noise survey data acquired on 22nd and 23rd June 2009 in support of NES’s application for the now consented MBT facility on the same site is still considered valid and representative of the noise climate experienced at and surrounding the application site. Accordingly, established noise levels at the nearest receptors have been used to assess the acceptability of operational noise levels from the proposed LowCEF.

Exact details regarding site construction and piling activities are not known at this stage, therefore assumptions have been made on the type of plant to be used and the activities to be undertaken. However, based on the assumptions made, negligible (insignificant) effects are predicted at the nearest residential property (at St Andrews

Gate Roundabout). At the nearest commercial receptors, compliance with the noise limit of 65 dB LAEq,1hr is predicted when plant and equipment is operated simultaneously at or close to the site boundary. Accordingly, no significant construction noise effects are anticipated.

The assessment of cumulative operational building plant and activity noise levels from the proposed facility during the daytime period is predicted to comply with Bristol City Council’s (BCC’s) Rating Level criteria at both the nearest residential and commercial receptors. During the night-time period a less favourable situation is predicted, with noise levels predicted to exceed BCC’s criteria at each of the nearest sensitive commercial uses. However, with careful attention paid to plant selection, installation and noise attenuation measures outlined in this Chapter, operational noise can be practicably controlled so as to not cause a nuisance.

Development related road traffic noise has been scoped out of the assessment as the co-location of the proposed LowCEF with the consented MBT facility is likely to result in a net reduction in HGV movements. In adopting a precautionary approach the applicant has requested that the application be considered on the basis of no net increase in HGV movements over and above the number associated with the consented MBT facility. The traffic flows associated with the proposed development are not considered large enough to have any discernible effects, particularly when compared with the flows on nearby surrounding links. Therefore long-term negligible (insignificant) effects are anticipated.

In summary, anticipated noise levels are within acceptable limits.

Landscape

This chapter has assessed the impact of the proposed development on landscape character and visual amenity within a study area of approximately 2.5 km radius. The proposed development will be located in an area of intense industry; it will create a visual extension to this area but will not be an uncharacteristic addition to it. The application site forms part of a larger site benefiting from planning permission for a MBT facility. The proposed LowCEF overlays the footprint of the consented phase 2 bio-stabilisation

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hall and the proposed building is of similar dimension to that approved. As such, the proposed LowCEF results in only minor changes to the buildings visual envelope, principally arising from the incorporation of a 28m high stack. The proposed development will use materials sympathetic to the immediate townscape character and will introduce a positive alteration to the existing site. There will be a slight beneficial effect on the Avonmouth Industrial Shoreline townscape character area. There will be a slight adverse effect on two visual amenity receptors in close proximity to the proposed development. Due to the screening qualities of the enclosed industrial urban fabric, including new large scale development and associated landscape treatments, a large landfill site and network of major transport corridors, the proposed development will result in a neutral effect on more distant visual amenity receptors and landscape/townscape character areas.

Ecology

An ecological assessment of the receptors that may be affected by the proposed development was undertaken, focusing on protected or notable species, habitats and designated sites.

A combination of desk studies, field surveys and atmospheric modelling were undertaken. No protected or notable species were recorded during the surveys. The habitats and species assemblage have been subject to significant earthworks as part of the site remediation works associated with the consented MBT facility. Ecological assessment indicated the site to be of negligible value and this was scoped out of the impact assessment.

Designated sites are located within the vicinity of the application site, including the internationally designated Severn Estuary, which is approximately 1km from the site, and two other sites within 5km. Impacts on the designated sites were assessed in line with best practice guidelines. Strict adherence to pollution prevention guidelines and inclusion of exhaust cleaning technologies within the design will result in a negligible residual impact on the designated sites during both the construction and operational phase of the development. Modelling of oxides of nitrogen, nitrogen deposition and sulphur dioxide concluded that any in isolation or in combination impacts on habitats or designated sites were negligible.

The current application will not alter previous commitments to enhance the perimeter swale, create a flood compensation pond and creation of rubble / log piles as refuge / hibernacula for amphibians and reptiles, which are evaluated to provide a minor positive impact on nature conservation value.

Water and Drainage

An assessment of effects on the water environment was completed by Halcrow Group Ltd and included within the Environmental Statement produced in support of the now consented NES MBT facility. That previous assessment has been reviewed and is considered to also apply to the proposed LowCEF development.

The proposed LowCEF development, directly overlays the footprint of the Phase 2 bio-stabilisation building of the consented MBT facility. As such, there will no significant change to the site’s risk of flooding.

Once the site is operational there will be some beneficial effects to the local surface water network as the surface water and groundwater recharge of the Kings Weston Rhine (west) will be much cleaner.

To mitigate against altering the drainage regime and possible contamination of surface water during construction a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be developed, to manage and control all the construction activities.

Rhine adjacent to Kings Weston Lane

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Contaminated Land

An assessment of effects on the soils and geology at the site was completed by Halcrow Group Ltd and included within the Environmental Statement produced in support of the now consented NES MBT facility.

This previous assessment has been reviewed and is considered to also directly apply to the proposed LowCEF development.

A remediation strategy has been developed to ensure that once the site is operational it will no longer present significant risks to human health or the water environment. Remediation works have commenced at the site in preparation for the adjacent MBT facility.

The CEMP will include measures to avoid accidental spillages of potentially polluting substances. The Environmental Permit that the MBT will operate under requires that the quality of the land does not deteriorate due to the operation of the facility.

Summary and Conclusions The impact assessment has sought to understand both the direct and indirect effects of the LowCEF during construction and operation and has considered their duration.

Generally, the environmental impact assessment has determined that during the construction phase there will be some minor adverse impacts relating to noise, landscape and surface water. These are all short term impacts typical of activities on construction sites.

Once the site is operational the overall environmental assessment has determined that there should be long term minor beneficial effects on the surrounding environment when all mitigation measures are taken into account. The

benefits to the surrounding environment are borne through improvements to:

• the local surface water within the rhine network.

• the biodiversity of the site.

• the improved visual effect on the local area by bringing a derelict site into use.

Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility Environmental Statement - Non Technical Summary

July 2009

Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility Environmental Statement - Non Technical Summary

July 2009

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