An Ayrshire-based green energy firm has been given the go-ahead to process up to 20,000 tonnes of distillery by-product - and turn it into gas.
Grissan Carrick Ltd has won permission to install the infrastructure to support the venture at their site in Grangestone Industrial Estate, Girvan.
Work will shortly begin to build a concrete containment ‘bund’ to house two 5000m3 anaerobic digestion tanks, measuring approximately 32 metres in diameter and 16.8m in height, with two feed intake tanks, a blending tank and process water tank.
In addition, the plan involves the installation of other infrastructure such as a biomethane upgrader, emergency gas flare, LPG Tanks, gas injection unit, and ancillary equipment outside the bund.
A new private access link will be established.
It’s all so that Grissan can support and process by-products from the nearby William Grant & Sons Distillers.
In addition, the project will see a Carbon Capture system installed, which is key to helping to tackle global warming.
There were no objections to the plans.
In making their decision to rubber-stamp the proposals, South Ayrshire Council said: “The principle of this development is considered to be acceptable in planning terms as it is industrial development within a zoned industrial estate.
“The scale and nature of the development is considered to be acceptable given the industrial nature of the area within which the development is taking place - and the fact that consultation responses do not raise any objections.”
Using a technique called anaerobic digestion (AD), the process would see up to two megawatts (MW) of indigenous renewable gas produced.
Anaerobic Digestion is the process where organic material is biologically treated in the absence of oxygen using naturally occurring micro-organisms to produce biogas, which is then fed into the National Gas Grid- after it is cleaned of impurities.
The proposals for new infrastructure at the Girvan site follow a review of the existing AD plant, where it was concluded that it would be “more efficient” to construct new infrastructure alongside the “existing facility”.
A supporting statement from Grissan said: “It is envisaged that this anaerobic digestion operation will process approximately 20,000 tonnes of distillery by-products from the adjacent William Grant & Sons Girvan Distillery.
"The proposal will generate up to two megawatts (MW) of indigenous renewable gas, which is the equivalent energy consumption for approximately 3,000 households.
“This AD plant would allow the Girvan Distillery to continue to use this alternative method for the treatment of its by-products while utilising the renewable energy and heat created by the process.
“It is anticipated that distillery by-product arisings will continue to increase in future from the Girvan Distillery.”
The site will be accessed via a new internal access road from the Warehouses of the William Grant & Sons Girvan Distillery, or via the existing Ladywell Avenue entrance for the site.
Grissan also said the environmental implications of the new infrastructure were “evaluated” but would “not result in any detrimental impacts.”
David Olwell, planning and permitting manager at Grissan, added: “The proposed expansion of the gas upgrading system and the introduction of carbon capture technology are essential in the aim of the distillery to reduce carbon emissions.”
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