Uskmouth Power Station plans set for approval

Plans for additional industrial development to enable the conversion of the dormant Uskmouth Power Station site in Newport have been recommended for approval.The Uskmouth project seeks to re-purpose a coal-fired power station to operate using waste-derived fuel pellets consisting of 50 per cent waste biomass materials with the remaining fuel pellet content made up of plastic wastes which are unsuitable for recycling.The conversion is being brought forward by the listed Simec Atlantis Energy business.The development will facilitate the return of the plant to service and extend its operating life by approximately 20 years and ensure the employment of retained staff with critical skills in the energy production industry alongside the creation of approximately 15 additional on-site jobs during the operational period.A number of industrial developments are required for the project.They include four fuel storage silos that will contain the pellets; two day silos that will contain the pellets during transfer from primary silos to the milling process within the main power station building; and a fuel de-dusting building where excess dust generated by the fuel pellets as they are conveyed to storage will be collected for use in the combustion process to minimise wastage.Additionally, the existing rail fuel unloading facilities are to be upgraded, adding to existing rail unloading facilities, as all fuel pellets will be delivered to site by rail and discharged into under track hopper conveyors that will transfer pellets to the primary storage silos via existing and new enclosed conveyors.The planning application is recommended for approval in a report to be scrutinised by Newport City Counicllors this week.That recommendation is made despite the adverse effect the proposal will have upon recreational viewpoints close by at the national nature reserve managed by RSPB and Wales Coastal Path which cannot be mitigated.The impact of the proposals in transport terms has also been considered in detail. The RSPB has raised significant objection in this respect while it is also considered that neighbouring residents along some parts of the HGV route will consider the reintroduction of HGVs along the route as a threat to their amenity.The merits of the scheme, however, are said to weigh significantly in favour of it and “any adverse effects deemed to arise from impact on landscape and impact upon amenity must be balanced against such merits”.Planning officers are of the view that the proposal is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the environment and “it is considered that the merits of the scheme outweigh the objections”.Planning permission is not sought for the conversion itself as a change in the fuel source from coal to waste derived pellets does not require approval and there is no change of use of the existing power station as its primary purpose would be thermal combustion to generate electricity.The conversion of the power station and the change in the fuel type is a matter that will be regulated via Natural Resources Wales (NRW) via its Environmental Permitting process.Planning officers said they have liaised with representatives at NRW to seek reassurance that the applicants are appropriately engaged in the permitting process and NRW have confidence that the proposals for this fuel conversion are progressing towards an outcome in the near future.