€75m energy plan for Co Cork

Valeco Limited, a subsidiary of Greenstar, the country’s leading integrated waste management company, is to apply for planning permission to develop a €75m state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion facility on lands near Kilworth, Co Cork.

If approved, the facility should be operational from 2008 depending on receipt of planning and a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Anaerobic digestion, a natural process for decomposing organic waste, will be used to divert an estimated 250,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste generated in Munster away from land spreading and landfill by converting it into two environmentally friendly products, bio-energy through green electricity and solid fertiliser for a more efficient and eco-friendly method of spreading to land.

John Mullins, Greenstar’s director of business development, said the environmental benefits of anaerobic digestion were multiple, including reduced water pollution, lower greenhouse emissions, and reduced odours from agricultural slurries.

The energy produced at the site would offset the firing of fossil fuels at other power facilities in the country.

An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is being prepared to accompany the application to Cork County Council for full planning permission.

The EIS will also be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of a Licence Application in accordance with the Waste Management Act, 1996.

A public information meeting for local residents will be held in The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown on Friday, December 16 from noon to 3pm

All are welcome. For further information, contact 1850 206379.