Concern over biogas proposal
Green energy facility mooted outside Nenagh
A concern group has formed over a proposal to build a large-scale biogas facility outside Nenagh.
The Ballymackey Biogas Concern Group claims that their community is the “wrong place for such a development”. Its members have cited several grounds of objection to the proposed facility, where green energy would be created from organic waste supplied by local industry.
The facility has been mooted by local farmer Tim Cullinan, who stressed that it remains for now a proposal; a formal planning application is still some way off.
Mr Cullinan has informed local residents about the proposal. A number of meetings took place since, after which the concern group was set up.
The group's concerns include health hazards; odour and air emissions; increased traffic on local roads; risk of explosion, and risk to water and biodiversity. The group also believes the proposed facility could impact property value in the area.
‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE’
Ballymackey Biogas Concern Group spokesperson Henry Mooney said the group formed after he and fellow local residents were informed about the proposal. Two public meetings were held - in Kilruane and Ballinree school - and a committee of nine has been formed. Mr Mooney said a WhatsApp group of almost 100 members has been set up. Local councillors have also been engaged.
Having received details of the proposal, Mr Mooney said a key concern is the volume of waste to be processed at the facility. “It's going to take in 200,000 tonnes of waste. That's four times more than Ballaghveny landfill can accept per year,” he said. “This is an industrial-scale biogas plant.”
He anticipated an additional 40 trucks per day using local rural roads to get to and from the site of approximately 13 acres near the Ballaghveny landfill.
“The difference with Ballyaghveny landfill is when you drop off the waste at Ballaghveny landfill, it stays there. Anything that comes in on this site - 200,000 tonnes - it’s all going to have to come back out, whether it comes out as gas in a pipeline, comes out as liquid or solid sludge or other byproducts, it all has to come back out.”
Mr Mooney added that the proposed biogas plant would have six 240-cubic-metre anaerobic digestion tanks, putting it beyond comparison with similar facilities in the country. He said local residents would challenge the proposal and he wanted people in general to be aware of the situation.
“We just want to get the message out there that we are a group of people who are concerned,” Mr Mooney said.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Biogas is a renewable energy source produced by the breakdown of organic matter such as food scraps and animal waste.
It is understood that the proposed Ballymackey plant would take in slurry, food waste, meat processing waste and milk processing waste from nearby factories. Biogas can be used for heating, electricity generation and transport.
Mr Cullinan said he is endeavouring to create a sustainable green energy-production facility in the area, where he is already providing employment at his pig farm.
Consultants are working on the proposal and looking at such aspects as traffic and environment impact, but no planning application will be lodged in the short-term, he said.
Mr Cullinan added that he and his team have engaged with the local community about their intentions and there is ongoing engagement with Tipperary Co Council. He has also met with local councillors.
“We have initiated a process of engagement, in particular with people in the immediate area of the proposed facility,” he said. “In all of our operations, we always have an open-book policy, in particular with those in the immediate area.”