Peel Environmental, part of Peel L&P, has signed a deal with Progressive Energy to deliver the UK’s first commercial scale Bio-Substitute Natural Gas (BioSNG) plant at the 54-acre Protos energy hub near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.

The plant will generate renewable gas from up to 175,000 tonnes of bio-resources, including unrecyclable wood and refuse derived fuel (RDF). This gas will be used in the transport sector, generating enough gas to power up to 1,000 low carbon HGVs and buses every year.

The development will see a further 500 jobs created at the Protos site during construction, with 35 full time permanent, high skilled jobs. It represents an investment of £150m.

Chris Manson-Whitton from Progressive Energy said:

“Although the UK is making good progress in decarbonising its electricity supplies, the transport and heat sectors – which together represent around three quarters of our energy consumption – are lagging way behind. Facilities such as this could make a huge difference, providing renewable gas for transport fleets across the North West and beyond. In the future we could see a large proportion of the UK’s HGVs powered by this fuel.”

Jayne Hennessy from Peel Environmental, part of Peel L&P, said:

“There’s a growing momentum around energy in the North West and projects such as this demonstrate how we’re leading the energy revolution. At Protos we’re delivering innovative low carbon energy solutions that can power the Northern Powerhouse and Progressive Energy’s ground-breaking technology will be a great fit for the site.

“Protos sits at the heart of the Energy Innovation District – a whole energy system that could set the blueprint for the UK. Through innovative technologies and smarter distribution networks we can drive down the cost of clean energy, attracting new businesses, jobs and investment.”

BioSNG is a replacement for the regular natural gas that is currently supplied to our homes and businesses. BioSNG can be injected into the existing gas network, providing the opportunity for the plant at Protos to export fuel to the wider UK without the need for any road movements.

The plant will also be configured in the future to produce renewable hydrogen, potentially linking into Cadent’s plans to build a hydrogen network in the region as part of its HyNet project.

Subject to planning approval and funding, Progressive Energy’s plant is due to start production in 2022. It is expected that a further eight similar facilities could be built across the UK during the 2020s.

Protos sits within the Energy Innovation District (EID) which brings together energy users, network owners, innovators and partners working alongside Cheshire & Warrington LEP, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester. With the objective of driving down the cost of clean energy the EID is an opportunity to deliver a new decarbonised energy system for the North West of England, meeting the Government’s Clean Growth agenda while boosting economic growth and investment.

 

Notes to Editors


About Peel Environmental and Protos

Peel Environmental, part of Peel Land and Property (Peel L&P), owns and develops waste infrastructure projects. It has achieved consent for a range of energy infrastructure schemes including a 35MW Energy from Waste plant at Protos in Cheshire, 21MW Energy from Waste plant and 250,000tpa AD and MRF in Glasgow; and a 20MW Energy Centre at Houghton Main, Barnsley. Peel works with investors, waste management companies, technology providers and contractors to secure a deliverable business model for each project.

Peel Environmental brought forward and consented the Protos development, previously known as Ince Resource Recovery Park. The 54ha (134 acres) development site has full outline planning consent and part detailed planning consent for general manufacturing and distribution uses (B1, B2 & B8), as well as a biomass facility and an Energy from Waste facility.

For more information about the work being undertaken at Protos visit: http://thisisprotos.com/

 Follow for updates follow Protos on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/thisisprotos?lang=en

 About Peel L&P – realising possibility.

We are an ambitious regeneration business with generations of history, heritage and expertise in our DNA. First established in 1971, Peel L&P is now responsible for some of the most transformational development projects in the UK today.

Owning and managing 12 million sq ft of property and 20,000 acres of land and water, our holdings are concentrated in the north west of England but we also own and manage significant assets throughout the UK with a total portfolio value of £2.6 billion.

As a part of the Peel Group; we are integral to a business that strives to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Our legacy matters. We take great pride in the outcomes we achieve, the people we work with, the way we go about our business and the transformational projects we deliver.

Our specialist teams have a proven track record in delivering high-quality, legacy projects across land, property, water and airspace. This includes airports, hotels, waterways, media hubs, event spaces, leisure facilities, retail, workspaces, residential development, industrial & logistical space, public realm, historic gardens and the renewable energy sector.

Peel L&P is an agile and ambitious business with a legacy of success for a long-term, sustainable future.

We see possibility. We deliver transformation.

About Progressive Energy

Progressive Energy is an established independent UK clean energy company focusing on project development and implementation. Progressive was formed in 1998 to commercialise key energy technologies, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), novel waste to energy and biomass conversion.

Progressive is currently engaged in a series of major projects to decarbonise the gas network with hydrogen and/or Bio-Substitute Natural Gas (BioSNG). These include the HyNet, HyDeploy and GoGreenGas projects. Much of the company’s work is also now focused on the deployment of new energy storage technologies to alleviate constraints on the electricity grids and to reduce costs for industrial power consumers.

 For more information on the Energy Innovation District visit

www.energyinnovationdistrict.com

 

For more information please contact:

 

Rebecca Eatwell

07827 353113

rebecca.eatwell@newgatecomms.com

 

Chris Midgely

07825 626 258

Chris.midgely@newgatecomms.com

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