biofuelwatch: Leeds 19MW power station alert June 2010

Urgent: power station with a 19MW input from biofuels proposed in Leeds

Background

Hargreaves Services Plc has set up a subsidiary company called Rocpower Ltd to generate electricity from vegetable oil. Hargreaves itself is a supplier of services and fossil fuels, including coal, to conventional power station operators and they are also investing in one of the UK's biggest opencast coal mines, in Wales.

Rocpower are planning to build at least SIX biofuel power stations in Yorkshire and Lancashire, with a total generating capacity of 60MW. Rocpower's total fuel consumption across the six planned sites is likely to be at least 150,000 tonnes per year.

Rocpower has submitted planning applications for at least four of the six power stations and one of them has been approved and is already operating:

Leeds - 19 MW; Application Ref: 10/02274/FU. Consultation ends: 2nd July. To be built in Bramham, with palm oil specified as one likely feedstock.
Wakefield - 11 MW: This has been approved on the basis of an application which refers to plans to burn palm oil and is planned in Featherstone.
Barnsley - 7MW: The initial planning application was withdrawn. It has now been resubmitted ( Planning application No. 2009/1539). The plans are for Baraugh Green and might be decided by the planning committee on 29th June.
Sheffield - 8MW: Planning application No. 09/02979/FUL, to be built in Ecclesfield. Planning Committee date not yet announced.

Rocpower gives palm oil as one example of what they intend to burn at Leeds. They claim that they will not burn 'virgin' palm or soybean oil, but also say that used cooking oil will not be burned, except possibly for a very small amount to start up the engines. Their sourcing policy is so wide hat palm oil suitable for the food industry clearly falls under it. Otherwise, the company simply says that they will abide by UK biofuel 'sustainability standards' – but those don't exist.

Another type of plant oil cited by Rocpower is tall oil, a by-product of pulp and paper production. Global production of tall oil is very limited and it is highly unlikely that Rocpower could run their power stations on just that – and even if they could, their application includes palm and other vegetable oil burning, too.

Furthermore, even if "residues" were used, something Rocpower do not commit themselves to, the indirect impacts could be very negative, as demonstrated in a study commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Agency. Burning "residues" which would otherwise be used by the food industry or for making soap or cosmetics, can, for example, boost the overall demand for palm oil.

The planned power station would also increase levels of nitrogen oxides and small particulates which are linked to respiratory and heart disease, as well as emissions of PAHs which are linked to cancer and birth defects.

According to the Air Quality Assessment, the site is less than 300 metres from cottages and also close to farmsteads both to the south and north-east of the development. It is close to Branham Park, an estate which dates back to 1698 and, according to the Bramham Park website, comprises gardens, woodlands, farming and residential lettings. The site is also close to Tadcaster Grammar School.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE UK please send in an objection to Leeds City Council as soon as possible.

You can read the planning documents and/or respond on the council website here.

Or you can send the letter below to the Council's Planning Department. Please personalise it before sending. It will be sent to planning@leeds.gov.uk.

Please let your friends and family know. If you live in Leeds or in one of the other places in Yorkshire where Rocpower is planning to build biofuel power stations and if you can help in any way with the campaign then please email info@biofuelwatch.org.uk. Many thanks.

Subject:

I wish to object to Rocpower's planning application for a 19 MW biofuel power station at Warren Lane, Bramham, Leeds LS24 9NU. Reference 10/02274/FU. The application forms part of much larger plans by Rocpower for a total of 60MW output from biofuel burning. I am deeply concerned about the impacts which this additional demand for biofuels will have on the climate, on rainforests and other ecosystems, and on communities in the global South. In Italy and Germany, a large number of biofuel power stations are already operating and virtually all of them run on palm oil which is by far the cheapest vegetable oil, and is very damaging to the environment. Rocpower directly mentions palm oil as a possible fuel in their power station. Their definition of co-products is misleading (in that the oils they claim to be co-products could equally well be classed as virgin vegetable oil). Their definition of 'co-products' covers types of vegetable oil, including palm-oil, which could be used for food, soap and candles. Using more of this oil will inevitably lead to more plantation expansion. Rocpower also mentions tall oil, a by-product of paper production, however tall oil supplies are very limited and set to shrink further across Europe as paper mills are closing and the paper industry continues relocating to countries in the global South. Rocpower claims that they will abide by Ofgem 'standards' for sourcing of biofuels, including palm oil, but there are no such standards at present. The power stations will further increase the demand for biofuels and, directly or indirectly, for land required for vegetable oil. Given that both the UK and the EU are net importers of vegetable oil, this is likely to mean more palm oil imports. Palm oil expansion is the main cause of deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia, according to the UN Environment Programme, and is accelerating rainforest destruction in many other countries, including Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Ecuador, Uganda and Cameroon. Studies have shown that biofuels linked to palm oil expansion in South-east Asia, whether directly or indirectly, cause hundreds of times more greenhouse gas emissions than using the equivalent amounts of mineral oil. Plantation expansion caused by the increasing demand is also linked to the displacement and eviction of indigenous peoples, small farmers, pastoralists and other communities, often involving human rights abuses. I am also very concerned about the effects of additional air pollution, in particular on people living at the nearby properties and on pupils and staff at Tadcaster Grammar School. I understand that this polluting development is proposed for a green belt site. All this area would be affected by additional pollution, mainly nitrogen oxides, small particulates (PM10 and PM 2.5) and PAHs from a biofuel power station. The air quality assessment submitted by Rocpower confirms that the emissions of nitrogen oxides and small particulates will "not be insignificant". Furthermore, PAH emissions from burning pure vegetable oil have been shown to be significant and to be associated with a higher risk of cancer and birth defects. Yours faithfully,
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