Portland incinerator to be first carbon neutral plant of it's kind

The company behind a waste incinerator planned for Portland say it would be the first carbon neutral Energy Recovery Facility in the UK.

Powerfuel Portland have submitted a planning application for the ERF at Portland Port.

It would generate electricity by burning none recyclable household and business waste.

The company has made a commitment to ensure that the net Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the operation of the ERF will be offset, making the project 'carbon neutral'.

Steve McNab, Director Powerfuel Portland, said:

"There is a significant GHG benefit achieved from our "shore power" solution that reduces emissions from docked ships.

"When we can connect the ERF to a local district heating system, this will deliver a further reduction in net GHG emissions.

"However, the ERF will still produce GHGs and the baseline will likely get tighter in future years (for example if and when landfill is banned, and when the grid is more renewable than gas, those will not be the correct baseline assumptions).

"We believe that it is important that the facility always operates as carbon neutral. This 'Dorset-scale' project will reduce the GHGs from Dorset's waste management requirements.

"This is the era of climate emergency and it falls on businesses and developers to look closely at the impact that their activities have.

"We understand that the ERF in Portland will be the first carbon neutral ERF in the UK and we are very proud to be leading the waste and recycling sector into a new era."

A carbon assessment has been submitted as part of Powerfuel's environmental impact assessment (EIA), which provides figures to demonstrate the facility's projected annual carbon footprint.

The net-zero commitment will include a minimum financial contribution that will go towards strategies to either offset carbon emissions or fund other emission reducing activities.

This will contribute at least £3,000,000 over the operational life of the plant, ring-fenced for GHG reducing activities.

Powerfuel Portland is working with carbon offsetting specialist charity Pure Leapfrog to design and then achieve its net-zero carbon status, and is currently exploring a range of offsetting and carbon sequestration options.

Claire Hanratty, CEO of Pure Leapfrog, said:

"We are looking forward to developing a comprehensive offsetting scheme, supporting projects both locally and globally and ensuring that the Portland ERF has no negative impact on carbon across the lifetime of the project."

Steve McNab continued:

"Our net-zero commitment is for the lifetime of the project and, working with Dorset Council, our commitment will be assured by use of a planning condition or a Section 106 planning obligation.

"Objectors have suggested that this is somehow "greenwash". It simply is not the case. In the future, once suitable carbon capture technology is available, Powerfuel Portland will investigate opportunities to retrofit such equipment at the Energy Recovery Facility to reduce rather than offset."