Hopes over ‘green’ power for city homes

The £150m plant, proposed by C Spencer Ltd, would use some of the latest technology to convert up to 200,000 tonnes of food and garden waste into energy.

Part of the complex would house a research, development and education centre where post-graduates from Hull University could undertake energy-related research projects.

Chief executive Charlie Spencer said: “This is by far the most exciting and innovative renewable energy development facility anywhere in the United Kingdom.

“There are others that incorporate some of the technologies and processes we are proposing here, but none are as far-reaching and integrated as this.

“It will put Hull firmly on the environment map, demonstrating to the rest of the country and Europe how a community can take responsibility for its surplus bio-degradable materials by converting it into green energy.

“This facility will provide power to more than 25,000 homes and a quarter of the city’s population, leaving us not entirely self-sufficient in energy but certainly a good way along that road.

“In addition, the facility will produce 900,000 therms of gas energy that could either be delivered to users via the gas grid or used to power local commercial vehicles.”

A planning application has been submitted to the city council and the project, called Energy Works, is earmarked for an eight-acre site located on the east bank of the River Hull.

The firm said the facility would use two proven renewable energy technologies, advanced gasification and anaerobic digestion.

Currently, about 600,000 tonnes of bio-waste from the Humber region is deposited annually in landfill sites or exported outside the region and abroad.

Mr Spencer added: “If we can take this material off the roads and use it as feedstock to generate energy for local people, that has to make environmental and economic sense.”