AN ENERGY company is planning to build a massive biogas plant in Wherwell near Andover.

Acorn Bioenergy Limited has submitted an application before the Test Valley Borough Council for the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility, ancillary infrastructure and the construction of a new access from Cowdown Lane in Wherwell.

The biogas plant is planned on approximately 7.6 hectares of land to the north of Cowdown Farm.

According to a planning statement, Acorn creates and procures biogas from anaerobic digestion facilities in the UK and upgrades it to biomethane.

It operates a ‘hub and spoke’ model, transporting biomethane from anaerobic digestion facilities to a central depository, utilising biomethane-powered trucks.

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The statement says the carbon-negative biomethane will then be directly used as an alternative fuel to power vehicles and also injected into the gas grid to create renewable heat.

Acorn said the proposed development at Wherwell would import and treat in the region of 91,000 tonnes of feedstock per annum from its landholding and surrounding farms.

The feedstock would typically comprise energy crops such as silage, rye, maize and grass; straw; and poultry litter, farmyard manure and dairy slurry.

The facility would have the capacity to produce approximately 19,753,703 m3 of biogas per annum.

The application would include for highway modifications to A303 slipway in the form of a new access.

In addition to the biogas, the facility also produces a nutrient-rich solid fertiliser and soil conditioner and a liquid fertiliser (digestate), which would be used in place of raw manures and artificial fertilisers.

The process would also result in the production of carbon dioxide as a natural by-product. This is usually vented by plant operators.

However, Acorn said the proposed Wherwell plant would be fitted with equipment to upgrade the CO2 to 99.9 per cent purity, suitable for almost all industrial and commercial applications in the UK.

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Upgraded CO2 would be liquefied and transported by road to end users within the market area.

The proposed facility is expected to capture approximately 13,428 tonnes of CO2 a year.

Acorn said in its application that a letter was sent to residents informing them of the proposals and inviting them to a public exhibition at Goodworth Clatford Village Club on October 13.

The facility will be staffed from 7am to 7pm on Monday to Sunday, except during peak harvest periods when working hours would be extended as deemed necessary.