Biomass CHP Plant

Potters Recycling have gained planning permission to develop a Biomass CHP plant at its Welshpool headquarters, processing waste timber to generate electricity and heat.

Potters Recycling currently receive waste wood which is shredded, stockpiled and then sent out to be used to form chipboard. The requirement for waste wood within the local chipboard plant varies as can be seen in the fluctuation of size of the stockpile within the Welshpool yard.

Waste wood is received from all across the Shropshire and Powys borders from the Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Newtown, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin, Montgomery, Llanymynech, Machynlleth, Llanidloes, Caersws, Carno Knighton, Presteigne, Brecon, Bishops Castle, Telford, Guilsfield and Berriew areas.

Some of our waste wood is sent to landfill, the new development will see all waste wood recycled to produce energy.

The shredded wood will be burnt within the plant in a controlled manner and the heat generated used to produce steam which will pass through a turbine to produce electricity. The condensed steam, as hot water, will be used within the heating system

What does it do?

The plant will produce green energy, both as electricity and which will be sold to the National Grid, and heat that will be sold to local users. Natural resources that would normally end up in landfill are being used.

Who benefits?

Everyone benefits from greener energy. The lower the drain on natural resources, the longer they will last. By producing greener energy we are putting waste products to work and generating something useful.

Appearance

Our architects have designed the building in such a way as to be honest and visually pleasing to the eye. The building is formed predominantly of locally based timber set on a stone base, sourced from local quarries.

The timber structure, a grid shell, opens up sections to give views into the building so that parts of the process can be viewed. The covered sections need protection from the elements and noise control.

Facts & Figures

The plant is expected to produce 2.5MW of electricity and 5MW of heat and will use 25,0000 tonnes of timber per year. Emissions to air from the process come under extremely stringent EU regulations to meet the highest environmental standards and will be licensed by the Environmental Agency Wales.