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UK/EU: Local campaigns against biofuel and biomass power stations

Biofuelwatch offers advice and support to national and local groups concerned about destructive biomass developments near them – both in the UK and elsewhere in the EU. We support campaigns against wood-burning plants and related infrastructure, including wood pellet plants.

Several of the campaigns we supported in the UK have been successful – and now we’re finally able to offer similar support outside the UK, too.

Amongst the successful campaigns backed by Biofuelwatch were:

  • Helping to Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth and The Environment Network Pembrokeshire get a proposal for a large biomass and waste gasifier in Milford Haven rejected by the Welsh Government in June 2018, a proposal for a large biomass and waste gasifier in Milford Haven was rejected by the Welsh government, following a lengthy campaign by Pembrokeshire Friends of the Earth, The Environment Network for Pembrokeshire and Biofuelwatch;
  • Helping Grangemouth (inc. Skinflats) Community Council stop plans for a large import-reliant and polluting biomass power station in Scotland. After years of campaigning, an application to extend planning consent was finally rejected by Falkirk Council in March 2019 (which means that nobody has a permission for building such a plant now. See here to read more about this campaign.

If you’re concerned about the impacts of a biomass or biofuel power plant near you, whether proposed or an existing one, please send us an email.

Here are highlights of some of the active campaigns in the UK (last updated April 2019):

Noise complaints in Markinch, Fife, Scotland:  In Markinch, RWE has been operating what is still the UK’s largest dedicated biomass power station since 2014. Residents have been badly affected by noise from the power station, and the local authority has refused to monitor air quality in the local area. Biofuelwatch is working with a local residents group seeking to compel Fife Council  and SEPA to take enforcement action over RWE’s excessive noise levels, and we are also providing advice and support with trying to convince Fife Council to start local air quality monitoring.

+ Campaign against a waste wood gasifier in Barry, Wales: In Barry, a company called Biomass UK No.2 Ltd – financed by Aviva – has built a 10 MWe waste wood gasifier against huge local opposition. As of March 2019, the developers are trying to commission the plant. The local Docks Incinerator Action Group (DIAG) is continuing with several challenges. We have been supporting DIAG with presenting evidence to Ofgem that the plant cannot be considered eligible for renewable energy subsidies (because it was not commissioned by the time the relevant subsidies scheme closed). 

Campaign to stop the conversion of Cordemais power station from coal to biomass (and ensure it’s shut down instead)We have been working with international NGOs and with Amis de la Terre and CanopĂ©e to raise awareness of the dangers of allowing Cordemais Power Station to be converted to biomass instead of being shut down by 2022. Click here to read an Open Letter to the French Government, signed by 46 organisations.

+ Campaign to close down Ireland’s three peat power stations rather than allowing them to stay open beyond 2020 by burning ever more biomass. See here for an Open Letter signed by 33 NGOs in the USA.