Planned Energy Centre Would Create Up To 200 New Jobs
September 2010 – UP to 200 construction jobs will be created if the green light is given for a plan to development an ambitious new renewable energy plant outside Tullamore.
Glanpower Ltd., a Midlands based company, has just submitted planning for a Renewable Energy-from-Waste (EfW) Centre at Derryclure.
The proposed Centre, which will create 200 local jobs in the construction phase, and 50-70 high skilled jobs in its operational phase, is the first of four similar-type projects planned nationwide, and will bring an estimated annual boost to the midlands economy of €5-€8 million. Other benefits include incentives to local biomass producers worth €2 million per annum, investment in local community projects of €100,000, and knock-on benefits such as eco-tourism worth €4 million per annum to the midlands economy into the future.
Biomass and mixed municipal waste materials will be used at the Centre in a process known as Pyrolysis, to generate renewable energy in the form of electricity (6 Mw) to the national grid and heat energy for local community developments and infrastructure.
Managing Director of Glanpower, Brian Gillen commented: ‘The Derryclure Energy Centre is relatively small in size, but has the highest efficiency, and green, clean credentials of any technology currently available in the emerging green-tech economy, crucial to the future development of our country’.
He added: ‘I am delighted that Tullamore and its environs will be first to benefit economically and socially from this development. We want to be part of making the Derryclure Energy Centre a national centre of excellence in the context of a wider green energy hub for Tullamore and the Midlands.
Speaking to the Tribune, Mr Gillen stressed that the project was not an incinerator. ‘Our technology and process should not be confused with incineration – It’s Pyrolysis, a well-established technology for converting organic materials into natural gas, which is then used for power production, or can be further processed to produce other fuels. There is no oxygen and therefore no burning involved in the Pyrolysis process, as all oxygen content has to be removed for the process to work. For example, it is completely different from the proposed incinerator in Poolbeg, Dublin, which is many times larger, burns materials with oxygen and therefore creates significant dioxins and emissions, as well as a huge carbon footprint.’
Mr Gillen continued: ‘Government policy in this area is outdated and hasn’t kept up to date with emerging low emissions technologies in the green energy sector. In the absence of any other licencing vehicle, it still hasn’t removed Pyrolysis from a general ‘incineration’ categorisation under the waste incineration directive in 2000, which itself is an extension of previous, now archaic directives. Glanpower is currently in discussions with Government to have this policy updated and corrected.’
He explained that Pyrolysis based technologies are operational in Finland, Germany and the US. ‘Through research and development for the past number of years, Glanpower has procured an Advanced Pyrolysis System. This system underwent stringent development and testing in Stratford UK, and is being tested and manufactured by OMC Engineering Ltd., in Thurles, Co. Tipperary,’ outlined Mr Gillen.
He continued: ‘The Derryclure Energy Centre will have a very modern design and architecture, which will fit harmoniously into the local landscape and will make use of the best quality, Irish supplied materials in construction
Mr Gillen added that his company planned to improve road infrastructure in the area to facilitate the new plant. ‘We estimate an increase of approximately 18 lorries per day on the N80 which is a national secondary route, and therefore this is a relatively low traffic impact,’ he predicted.
The company chief said the Derryclure centre will have a positive impact on the existing landfill site through suggestions which his company plans to bring to the county council.
