Forth Energy's answers to questions from biomass public meeting at Drummond High School, Edinburgh

8/7/2019 Forth Energy's answers to questions from biomass public meeting at Drummond High School, Edinburgh

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Forth Energy Page 1

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership Public Meeting 9th February 2011 Responses to all questions asked

Organisation Question Other questions on sheet Response

Why build plant for 25 years

life? What happens to the

plant after it's 20-25 year life?

What happens to the plant afterit's 20-25 year life? removed?left derelict? upgraded and startanother 20 years?

Forth Energy mentionedthe ash would be recycled,how?

The plant will be designed to have an operational life of 25 years. The key factor thatdetermines when a plant is to be decommissioned is the economics of maintaining theplant to ensure that it remains reliable, safe to operate. In addition, the capability of theplant to earn revenues in the prevailing electricity and heat market conditions will beconsiderations. If the plant were to be re-engineered it would need to be re-licensed aswell. Decommissioning is expected to take around 9 months with the reinstatement ofground taking place towards the end of this period. Decommissioning will comprise the

following activities: de-energising and making the plant safe, dismantling and demolition;and reinstatement and re-use.

KSLD Why build plant for 25 year life?It should have xx year life toprovide good use of embodiedenergy and material inconstruction.

The plant will be designed to have an operational life of 25 years. The key factors thatdetermine when a plant is to be decommissioned are the economics of maintaining theplant to ensure that it remains reliable, safe to operate and compliant with environmentalrequirements. In addition, the capability of the plant to earn revenues in the prevailingelectricity and heat market conditions will be considerations.

Resident Why only 20 years life-span ofplant? Seems very short fordisruption and jobs.

The plant will be designed to have an operational life of 25 years. The key factors thatdetermine when a plant is to be decommissioned are the economics of maintaining theplant to ensure that it remains reliable, safe to operate and compliant with environmentalrequirements. In addition, the cost of fuel and the capability of the plant to earnrevenues in the prevailing electricity and heat market conditions will be considerations.


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KSLD Why propose an output cableroute that will be disrupted to thearea when an alternate route isavailable along sea from to

Portobello where former powerstation fed into grid.

Scottish Power considered a connection at Portobello but decided that Shrubhill was thepreferred point of connection on technical grounds.

Profit?

Resident What is your estimated profitannually?

Just 32 lorries per week, inwhat way is thatenvironmentally friendly?What will the view of theshore look like? Asopposed to views fromConstitution Street et al.What route will lorriestake? If through by-passhas anyone told thedrivers? It is strictly in theircontract to take the by-pass?

This is commercially sensitive information that we do not disclose.


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Business Case

Councillor

Leith CentralCommunityCouncil

Business Case: These is no

business case or economicassessment provided in thedocuments. In fact there are nofigures on development andrunning costs. Indications arethat there economic dis-benefitsto the local community as thesubsidies gleaned by ForthEnergy could more than out-

weigh the value of the 45permanent jobs on the site. Thisis purely and simply a money-making opportunity for theCompany at the expense of thecommunity.

Reference Environmental Statement: 16.8.4The application complies with the requirements of the consenting process. It is notcustomary when making application for consent for applicants to be required to providedetailed financial information. If a development is not commercially viable it will not goahead. Chapter 16 of the Environmental Statement provides the socio-economic impactassessment of the proposed Renewable Energy Plant in Leith. The basis and estimationof the direct and indirect job and Gross Value Added (GVA ) benefits are outlined in thetable below:

Activity Direct

Jobs

(FTE)

Multiplier Additional

Indirect +

Induced

Local

Jobs

(FTE)

Total Net

Additional

Local

Jobs

(FTE)

Local

GVA

Per

annum

Construction 135 1.93 73 208 11 m

Operations &Maintenance

45 4.83 111.6 156.6 17.5m

Supply Chain

Port

21 1.70 4.7 25.7 2.25

m

Supply Chain

Feedstock

42 2.18 0 18 0.52m

Decommissioning

10 1.93 3.9 14 0.7 m

Total 253 193 422 32 m


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University ofStrathclyde

What is the Forth Ports businessplan and how does energy

development fit into this?

Forth Ports has entered into a joint venture with SSE to promote renewable energydevelopments on appropriate sites throughout its estate.

Timing/Cost

Resident How long will it take to build?How much?

No information is availableto the general public,why?Is there an exhibitionanywhere that is in the citywhere people can view,

listen and be inspired? Toomany questionsunanswered.

Reference Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary: Ch 2, pg 4 of 26The construction period for the proposed plant will be approximately 36 months and costin the region of 600 million to build.

Subsidies

Tower WharfResident'sAssociation

How does Forth Energy qualifyfor government subsidy for theconstruction andrunningof thebiomass plant?

As the developer Forth Energy will bear the cost of construction without the aid of publicmoney i.e. as a commercial investment. The electricity produced however will entitleForth Energy to receive Renewable Obligations Certificates which is a Governmentscheme for incentivising the generation of renewable electricity at the lowest cost for theconsumer.

Leith LinksResidentsAssociation

On the basis of the current setrate per unit of energygenerated. How much moneywill be paid to Forth Energy (andit's shareholders) in the form of'renewable obligation' subsidies

from taxpayers money:-*per year?*over the 25 year lifetime of theplant?

The value of the Renewable Obligations Certificates is market driven but furtherinformation about ROCs & ROC value is available on Ofgem's website(www.ofgem.gov.uk).


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which assess other fuel sources or biomass renewable energy plant proposals. We arenot aware of any study that either challenges SISTECHs findings or theappropriateness of the European carbon lifecycle guidelines that SISTECH used.

Carbon Capture Technologies

Has there been anyconsideration of incorporating orretrofitting carbon capturetechnologies.

Reference - Planning Statement: 1.3.10The proposed Renewable Energy Plant is a low carbon technology and is also belowthe 300MWe European Union threshold for the consideration of Carbon-CaptureReadiness (CCR).

Impact of Biomass onSurrounding Area.

JUMPJoined UpMasterPlanning

This is not directly about thebiomass but, what effect will thisproposal have if built upon aplanning permission for the restof the docks which put the city,community and organisationsthrough huge expense and time

to consult on only to find thatForth Ports have no intention ofproviding the majority of thehousing in that permission northe school as they are all withinthe proximity of the biomass.They will only be building thepart around Ocean Terminal asit is the profitable commercial

and housing for the rich andsuper rich. Are we being totallyled up the garden path by acompany hell bent on satisfyingits shareholders at whateverexpense to the community ofLeith and EdinburghThey shouldbe made to pay the cost of theconsultation that we are all

having to do with all probabilitythat nothing will happen.

The focus of development on Edinburgh's Waterfront over the next decade will be ondeveloping the new Harbour area (application reference 08/04232/OUT), recentlyapproved by the City of Edinburgh Council, improving and further developing OceanTerminal and completing Western Harbour. Further development will be dependent onmarket conditions. If consent is granted, the proposed Renewable Energy Plant (REP)will be developed in the area that represented the final two urban villages, 8 and 9, of a30 to 40 year development programme. The lifecycle of the REP means that these

developments can still be implemented.


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Stakeholder Roles

CEC To John InmanWhat is the City of EdinburghCouncil role in respect to thisapplication?

Response from City of Edinburgh Council - The Council's role in this applicationis that of consultee. Unlike a normal planning application, it is not the determiningauthority.

The reason for this is that Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 requires that allapplications to construct and operate electricity generating plant with a capacity inexcess of 50 MW are determined by Ministers.

In tandem with the application for consent under the Section 36, Ministers will alsodetermine whether to issue a direction under section 57 (2) of the Town and CountryPlanning (Scotland) Act 1997 that deemed planning permission be granted for theproposal.

The Council is a statutory consultee in this process and is afforded a period of fourmonths to decide whether to support or object to the scheme and to provide a full list ofconditions it would like to see attached to any consent.The Council will take its decision at a meeting of the Development Management Sub-committee before the expiry of the four month period on 10 June.

Should Ministers grant consent, the Council will be the main body responsible fordischarging the conditions attached to the deemed planning permission.

LeithHarbourNewhavenCC

Who has the ultimate decisionas to whether the Power Stationis built in Leith?

The Scottish Ministers are the determining authority for the application which has beensubmitted in accordance with Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. If this decision is infavour of the plant, then the principle of its development will be established. Thedevelopment will not be able to commence at that point, however, as this will require thesubmission of further detail.

Conditions will be attached to any consent issued by the Scottish Ministers, that will thenbe discharged by the planning authority, City of Edinburgh Council for example ondesign and materials. To operate the plant, a Pollution Prevention and Control licencewill have to be applied for and granted by Scottish Environment Protection Agency.


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Noise Levels

LLCC Noise levels from the plant as itwill be operating on a 24/7basis. Chipping machines etc.

Locating the biomass plant within the existing boundary of a busy industrial port willresult in no significant audible increase in noise at the nearby residential locations. Theapplication for consent does not include a chipping machine fuel will be processedbefore being brought to the site.

32m Growth in the Economy

Can you clarify how you canstate 32m growth - abreakdown of where this figurecomes from please!

Reference Environmental Statement: 16.8.4Chapter 16 of the Environmental Statement provides the socio-economic impactassessment of the proposed Renewable Energy Plant in Leith. This assessment was

undertaken using recognised methodology by experts in the economic impact of newdevelopment. The basis and estimation of the direct and indirect job and Gross ValueAdded (GVA) benefits are outlined in the table below.

Activity Direct

Jobs

(FTE)


Indirect +

InducedLocal Jobs

(FTE)

Total Net

Additional

Local Jobs(FTE)

Local

GVA Per

annum

Construction 135 1.93 73 208 11 m

Operations &

Maintenance

45 4.83 111.6 156.6 17.5 m

Supply Chain

Port

21 1.70 4.7 25.7 2.25 m

Supply Chain

Feedstock

42 2.18 0 18 0.52m

Decommissioning 10 1.93 3.9 14 0.7 m

Total 253 193 422 32 m


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LocalResident

Projected annual growth is 32million to local economy butwhat is the offset in loss oftourism and other related

industries?

To build heatinginfrastructure to Edinburghwould be expensive, howmuch per kilometre? Is that

really commercially viableor feasible? What would bethe projected consumptionrates to justify cost?

Chapter 16 of the Environmental Statement provides the Socio-Economic ImpactAssessment of the proposed Renewable Energy Plant in Leith. This assessment wasundertaken using recognised methodology by experts in the economic impact of newdevelopment. The Socio-Economic Impact Assessment addresses the social and

economic effects that are likely to occur as a result of the construction, operation anddecommissioning of the proposed Renewable Energy Plant. The plant is located in anindustrial area and there are no predicted effects on tourism in the City as a result of itsdevelopment.

Leith LinksCommunityCouncil

32 million annual growth inlocal economy, where or howdid you arrive at this figure?

Reference Environmental Statement: 16.8.4Chapter 16 of the Environmental Statement provides the socio-economic impactassessment of the proposed Renewable Energy Plant in Leith. This assessment wasundertaken using recognised methodology by experts in the economic impact of newdevelopment. The basis and estimation of the direct and indirect job and Gross Value

Added (GVA) benefits are outlined in the table below.

Activity Direct

Jobs

(FTE)


Indirect +

Induced

Local Jobs

(FTE)

Total Net

Additional

Local Jobs

(FTE)

Local

GVA Per

annum

Construction 135 1.93 73 208 11 m

Operations &

Maintenance

45 4.83 111.6 156.6 17.5 m

Supply Chain

Port

21 1.70 4.7 25.7 2.25 m

Supply Chain

Feedstock

42 2.18 0 18 0.52m

Decommissioning 10 1.93 3.9 14 0.7 m

Total 253 193 422 32 m


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Efficiency

LocalResident

a) It is obvious that using wasteheat from the plant is unfeasible

due to the cost of installinginfrastructure and convertingheating systems in buildings.

b) Therefore, at only 30-35%efficiency, the proposedbiomass plant is far tooinefficient to deem it'sustainable' in any sense of the

word: environmentally,economically or socially.

We respect your opinion on these points, however we are not able to agree, and ourSustainability Statement addresses each of these points it is available to download

from our website.

Resident In what way can this proposalbe 'green' when it involves:inefficient use of the proposedplant-heat lost?

In what way can thisproposal be 'green' when itinvolves:I) transport of biomass byship from Europe andfarther afield?II) transport of biomass

from port to plant and ashto landfill?III)pollution ofEdinburgh/Lothian/Fife byplume?IV)pollution of landfill byash/leaking into water tableV)blighting waterfrontdevelopment?

Biomass combustion will generate electricity and various grades of heat. Some of theheat available from the combustion process will be used for district heating purposes our target is to build up, over time, a heat network of 60MW, which will be one of thelargest heat networks in the UK. Our Heat Plan (available on our website) identifies thepotential for wider heat supplies and is based on currently understood potential. Theready availability of renewable energy at this Port location is anticipated to act as acatalyst for further new developments to locate in the Leith area.

FundingWhere will infrastructure for heatdelivery come from and whopays?

Can you make hardguarantees about woodsources?

We will work with interested parties (including Energy Supply Companies) in developinga sustainable commercial model for this.

O i i Q i O h i h R


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LocalResident

To build heating infrastructure toEdinburgh would be expensive,how much per kilometre?

Is that really commercially viableor reasonable?

What would be the projectedconsumption rates to justify thecost?

Projected annual growth is32 million to local economybut what is the offset in

lose of tourism and otherrelated industries?

The commercial and economic issues associated with supplies of renewable heat will beprogressed with interested parties should consent be received. It is typical for anyinvestment in District Heating systems and related infrastructure (including pipework,heat exchange equipment, meters) to be appraised over the longer term,

typically a similar timescale to that of the proposed renewable energy plant. It istherefore reasonable to conclude that this will support the delivery of cost effectivesupplies of renewable heat. Further initiatives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive willassist in this.

Where will infrastructure for heatdelivery come from and who

pays?

Can you make hardguarantees about woodsources?


NewhavenResident

Who would fund the retrofittingof district heating into existingbuildings? If I wanted to heat myflat what would I have to pay toconnect to the DH?

We will work with interested parties (including Energy Supply Companies) in developinga sustainable commercial model for this. The opportunity to connect to your flat shouldbe considered if the overall cost to you of retro-fit and delivered heat supplies iscomparable to your current arrangements.

Leith LinksCommunityCouncil

Who would pay for distributionnetwork for heat and how muchwould it cost?


Leith SNIP What is the timescale for thedevelopment of the heatnetwork? Who would pay todevelop the heat network?

Indicative timescale is outlined in the Combined Heat and Power Feasibility Studyavailable on our website and which forms part of the application submission. Furtherdiscussions with interested parties will be able to progress, following receipt of consent.

O i ti Q ti Oth ti h t R


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LocalResident

During the utility diversions forthe tram works, was the idea ofinstalling district heating pipemains up Leith Walk ever

considered?

Doing this would have greatlyimproved the chances ofutilising waste heat from thebiomass or any other CombinesHeat and Power plant built atthe docks or farther afield, suchas at Seafield.

The heat mains could havesupplied the majority if the largerbuildings in the city centre, suchas St James Centre, OmniCentre, the Playhouse, thechurches and any number of theshops and offices along PrincesStreet and George Street.Tenements on Leith Walk andnearby could also havebenefitted, although at a highcost.

The plant and associated heat work is not associated with utility diversions for the tramworks.

LLCC What binding contracts has FEgot to deliver heat tobusinesses?

As we have indicated in the Combined Heat and Power Feasibility Study which formspart of the application, "it will only be possible to undertake detailed feasibility studiesand for commercial discussions around contractual terms and conditions to take place,post consent, when there is confidence that the development of the Leith RenewableEnergy Plant will proceed," (p1of 39).

ComparisonTechnologies/FuelsOn the LCA basis have youcompared the biomass plant toother renewable technologies(wind, solar)?And what is thebreakdown of the LCA impactwith regards to transport,biomass incineration etc.

The Sustainability Statement compares the carbon emission savings for the plant withother sources: the UK Grid mix, coal fired power plant and gas fired plant. Details of theassessment are set out at Chapter 4 of the Sustainability Statement. The plant will,across its lifecycle, produce 82-85% less carbon than the current mix of electricitygeneration in the National Grid.


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Resident In what way can this proposalbe 'green' when it involves:blighting waterfrontdevelopment?

In what way can thisproposal be 'green' when itinvolves:I) transport of biomass by

ship from Europe andfarther afield?II)transport of biomassfrom port to plant and ofash to landfill?III)inefficient use ofproposed plant-heat lost?IV)pollution ofEdinburgh/Lothian/Fife byplume?V)pollutions of landfill byash/leaking into watertable.

The Port of Leith is a working industrial Port and the development will be compatiblewith the existing uses of the site. The Port will remain in operational use for many yearsto come. The focus of development on Edinburgh's Waterfront over the next decade willbe on developing the new Harbour area (application reference 08/04232/OUT), recently

approved by the City of Edinburgh Council, improving and further developing OceanTerminal and completing Western Harbour. If consent is granted, the proposedRenewable Energy Plant (REP) will be developed in villages 8 and 9 of a 30 to 40 yeardevelopment programme.

FOWL,Shore Pubwatch

The siting of this plant iscompletely incongruous with thehistoric port area and the pubsand restaurants who try toattract tourists and visitors to acurrently beautiful historic area.How does Forth Energy justifythe complete disregard for theneeds of the businesses andresidents?

The Port of Leith is a working industrial Port and the development will be compatiblewith the existing uses of the site.

FOWL,Shore Pubwatch

Why site this plant so close toMichelin star restaurants, cafcontinental style cafes and bars,when moving to Seafield orfurther would remove theproblem?

The Port of Leith is a working industrial Port and the development will be compatiblewith the existing uses of the site. Imperial Dock is the most suitable location forunloading the fuel if Seafield were used, fuel would have to be handled twice, first overthe quayside, and then loaded into trucks and unloaded again at the site. This wouldincrease the cost and carbon footprint of this fuel and lead to large numbers of truckmovements within the Port.


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Resident What will the view of the shorelook like? as opposed to viewsfrom Constitution Street et al.

This sounds incrediblyaltruistic, what is yourestimated profit annually?Just 32 lorries per week, inwhat way is thatenvironmentally friendly?

What route will lorriestake? If through by-passhas anyone told thedrivers? Is it strictly in theircontract to take the by-pass?

Chapter 10, Landscape and Visual Impact of the Environmental Statement sets outan assessment of landscape and townscape effects. It includes a methodology for thestudy and details of the viewpoints that have been assessed at paragraph 10.4.6. Theseview points are set out in the Environmental Statement Vol 5, Figures 10.8 to 10.39.

Utilisation/Recycling of Ash

What would the ash be usedfor? how is it recycled?

Where would the woodcome from initially?Currently the Kilgarianpower plant has an ashmountain inMusselborough. The coalis imported from Russiaand the waste is stuck herein Edinburgh.

Opportunities for Recycling the ash produced will be sought as the project develops andthe precise fuel type becomes certain. Ash will be temporarily stored on site in hoppersand periodically emptied into trucks for transportation either to a recycling process or asa back stop option to landfill. Ash has many potential uses including, in the constructionindustry as a secondary aggregate or, when no waste wood is used, as a lime substitutein the agricultural industry.

Forth Energy mentioned the ashwould be recycled, how?

Opportunities for Recycling the ash produced will be sought as the project develops andthe precise fuel type becomes certain. Ash will be temporarily stored on site in hoppersand periodically emptied into trucks for transportation either to a recycling process or asa back stop option to landfill. Ash has many potential uses including, in the constructionindustry as a secondary aggregate or, when no waste wood is used, as a lime substitutein the agricultural industry.


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Sheriff BankOwnersAssociation

What impact assessment hasbeen made on the effect of thismassive structure yards from aresidential area on the healthand wellbeing of local residents?

Chapter 9 of the Environmental Statement - Air Quality provides an assessment ofthe potential air quality and health issues associated with emissions to air from the plant.The assessment has been prepared with reference to the Environmental ImpactAssessment Scoping, discussions with City of Edinburgh Council and ScottishEnvironment Protection Agency with regard to the scope and methodology of theassessment, and the nature and extent of baseline information available for use withinthe assessment. The assessment concludes that the overall impact due to the proposedplant is insignificant with respect to local air quality. This will be assessed independentlyby the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as part of the application process.

Consultation Process

Also what would Forth Energydeem to be a successful

consultation and what wouldthey deem to be a failure.

Do you (C.Wilson) call yourtree in your garden ''fuel''

too?

Forth Energy has undertaken three public consultation events as the project hasevolved. These have been set out in detail in the Statement of Participation, including a

record of all comments made, both positive and negative. This document can be viewedon www.forthenergy.co.uk. Forth Energy introduced the project, and discussed it indetail with a range of participants. We believe that successful consultation involves anopen exchange of information and views, and the provision of factual information inrelation to concerns that have been expressed. It is not always possible for everyone toagree, and there is frequently opposition to new developments. As there is such adiversity of people and views, we do not consider opposition to amount to a failure ofthe consultation process.

Forth Energy's answers to questions from biomass public meeting at Drummond High School, Edinburgh

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