GREENER
GRANGEMOUTH
Part of Scotland’s Changing Energy Mix
A Greener Future
01
It is generally accepted that Scotland has to move towards a more diverse
energy mix by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. This will lead to the
development of alternative sources of energy, such as wind and biomass
generation, and also, as technology develops, wave and tidal energy. Forth
Energy is proposing a biomass renewable energy plant at the Port of
Grangemouth, bringing a secure supply of low carbon energy, and
opportunities to use low carbon renewable heat. Biomass generation and
heat production are common in other parts of Europe, although relatively
new to Scotland. The plant will bring 70 permanent jobs to Grangemouth
and £470 million investment, as well as significant carbon savings.
Forth Energy
www.forthenergy.co.uk
02
Only using fuel from
certified, sustainable
sources.
INTERESTED? www.forthenergy.co.uk
Image 1: Woodfuel will be
sourced from purpose-grown
managed forests.
WHAT IS BIOMASS?
Biomass is predominantly composed
of wood chips and wood pellets
sourced from existing purpose-grown
and managed forests, which produce
wood as a crop for fuel, paper and
other product markets. In the planned
Grangemouth plant, the biomass fuel
will be burned in order to release
energy as heat and electricity.
BIOMASS FUEL
In preparing its application, Forth
Energy has undertaken considerable
research into the availability of wood
fuel supply, both within the UK and
globally. There are significant resources
available globally, and also an
anticipation of growth in managed
forests, to meet the rising demand for
this renewable fuel.
WHY GRANGEMOUTH?
Ports like the Port of Grangemouth are
ideal locations for biomass generation:
they are industrial areas, capable of
handling large volumes of wood fuel,
which can be unloaded from ships
beside the plants.
The fuel requirement at Grangemouth
represents only 0.075% of the current
European demand for biomass fuel. The
plant’s fuel will be sourced from a range
of locations including Scandinavia and
North America. The fuel type is specific
to the boiler design and cannot be
changed later. All fuel will be biomass
derived from wood or plants.
Forth Energy is also totally committed
to using fuel from certified, sustainable
sources only. This will ensure effective
replanting and forest management,
plus respect for the environment and
communities in the managed forest
areas. The process will be audited
independently through the operation
of the Government’s Renewables
Obligation Certificates.
Image 2: Bulk cargo shipping
is a low-carbon method of
transportation.
Forth Energy
www.forthenergy.co.uk
There has been considerable debate
about the relative carbon footprint of
different fuel types and the impact
these have on climate change. Biomass
is a low carbon fuel and recognised by
the Scottish, UK and European
Governments as a renewable fuel
source.
87%
Image 3: The biomass cycle –
from source to energy generation
and heat use.
Carbon Reduction
INTERESTED? www.forthenergy.co.uk
03
All forms of combustion release carbon. However, unlike fossil fuel
generation, carbon released by biomass generation is fully compensated
for by replacement forest growth. A scientific study has demonstrated
that the carbon will be recovered well within the lifespan of the plant.
Forth Energy has used recognised European guidelines to produce
a carbon footprint of its proposals. The plant at Grangemouth will
produce 87% less carbon than current average electricity generation
from the National Grid. These significant carbon savings also take into
account the carbon produced by transporting the fuel to Grangemouth.
Shipping is a low-carbon method of transporting goods.
Fuel Source
Majority of fuel
imported from
overseas from
managed sustainable
sources.
Emissions
Transportation
Plant will emit
filtered gases
and water
vapour.
Low carbon shipping
delivers 90% of fuel
(remainder by road).
Emissions Filter
Fuel Delivery
and Storage
Plant designed to
ensure compliance
with regulatory
air quality limits.
y
r
st
Fuel delivered directly into
port and along conveyors
to plant.
Fuel Type
Virgin wood, energy crops,
agricultural residues, used
wood, paper and cardboard.
re
Fo
ed
nag
a
M
y
bl
Sustaina
Low Carbon
Generates low
carbon electricity
and heat.
Energy Generation
Electricity and heat
produced continuously
from steam.
Ash
Ash recycling for construction,
agriculture and cosmetics use.
Electricity
Exported to the National Grid by
cables buried underground.
Heat Users
Homes, offices, retailers,
manufacturers and
community facilities.
Heat Exchange
Hot water distribution via
highly insulated district
heating pipes.
04
Image 4: Biomass generation is
common in Europe. This plant is
in Sweden.
£26million per year
economy boost and
70 permanent jobs
in Grangemouth
INTERESTED? www.forthenergy.co.uk
AIR QUALITY
All emissions are very tightly regulated
by the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA). The regulations ensure
that there are no negative effects on
health arising from energy generation –
emissions must stay within defined
limits and safe levels. All energy
generators of this type must also
obtain a Pollution Prevention Control
Licence to operate. The outputs are
monitored continuously and the results
are published and scrutinised by SEPA.
A plant which exceeds its operating
limits can be shut down. Similar plants
operate with no effects from emissions
across Europe. Examples include plants
at Lockerbie, Slough and Stockholm.
The fuel that the plant in Grangemouth
will use is consistent, which means that
the outputs will also be consistent. The
plant is designed carefully with an
appropriate stack height and the flue
gases are controlled continuously by
the advanced operating systems, to
ensure no negative impact on air
quality. Only water vapour and gases
will issue from the stack – smoke is not
emitted from the biomass plant.
The air quality assessment undertaken
for this application is rigorous and
includes the potential for adverse
climatic conditions such as fog and
local haar. SEPA’s air quality experts
have already assessed the application
and recorded no objection.
Image 5: Fuel is specific to the
plant design. Grangemouth
will only use woody biomass
as fuel.
Forth Energy
www.forthenergy.co.uk
HEAT AND POWER
The Grangemouth plant will operate as
a Combined Heat and Power facility –
this means that there will be
opportunities to supply heat to
surrounding businesses, community
facilities and homes. Forth Energy’s
application considers heat users in
the local area and the potential to
build one of the largest ‘district
heating’ networks in the UK. This
would consist of a series of pipes
leading from the plant to surrounding
buildings, allowing hot water to be used
for heating, before returning to the
plant for re-heating. For more details,
see the Combined Heat and Power
Study which forms part of the
application pack and can be downloaded
from www.forthenergy.co.uk
There is also an opportunity for the
new Grangemouth Renewable Energy
plant to act as a catalyst, bringing
industrial heat - and cooling - users to
locate near the plant and take
advantage of high-pressure steam for
use in their manufacturing processes.
EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC
BENEFITS
The proposed development will create
an average of 300 jobs during the
three-year construction phase. The
operational workforce will comprise
40 permanent jobs in plant operation
and 30 permanent port jobs, handling
the fuel as it arrives. Additionally, there
will be training and contracting
opportunities for local suppliers.
The plant will generate the
equivalent of 92% of the electricity
needs of the Falkirk Council area, and
bring an additional £26 million per
year to the local economy.
ROAD TRANSPORT
Almost all of the fuel required will be
delivered to Grangemouth by ship. This
will be the case for both internationally
and locally-sourced fuel. The application
assumes up to 10% of locally sourced
fuel arriving by road. This fuel and other
necessary servicing of the plant will
result in a maximum of 29 HGV’s
entering and leaving the plant on a
daily basis – a small number of
movements that can be accommodated
by the existing local road network.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE
CONTACT FORTH ENERGY AT
renewables@forthenergy.co.uk
or visit www.forthenergy.co.uk