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Chicken litter power plant plan Chicken litter power plant plan
(about 20 hours later)
Two of Northern Ireland's biggest poultry producers have announced plans to build a power station to produce electricity from chicken litter. Poultry litter and bone meal are to be the energy source of a new £100m power station planned for Northern Ireland.
Moy Park and O'Kane's chickens produce 250,000 tonnes of litter a year. The firms have formed a joint venture with another company to turn it into power. Moy Park and O'Kane's chickens have joined forces with Glenfarm Holdings to turn the waste into electricity.
Rose Energy is to ask for planning permission to build the £100m plant near Glenavy in County Antrim. Rose Energy is to ask for planning permission to build the plant near Glenavy, County Antrim. The firms hope tax-payers will contribute to the cost.
The companies hope tax-payers will contribute to the cost.
Rose Energy says burning agricultural waste will help Northern Ireland meet its renewable energy obligations.Rose Energy says burning agricultural waste will help Northern Ireland meet its renewable energy obligations.
"What we're talking about is a plant that will use agricultural by-products that will generate 30 megawatts of electricity," Mike Alcorn of Rose Energy said."What we're talking about is a plant that will use agricultural by-products that will generate 30 megawatts of electricity," Mike Alcorn of Rose Energy said.
"Thirty megawatts, to put it in context, is about the amount of power needed for a town like Larne."Thirty megawatts, to put it in context, is about the amount of power needed for a town like Larne.
"It will obviously be treated as green electricity, because the fuel streams for it come from renewable sources.""It will obviously be treated as green electricity, because the fuel streams for it come from renewable sources."
The power station would be built beside a meat and bone meal factory near Glenavy.The power station would be built beside a meat and bone meal factory near Glenavy.
However, some concerns about the plans have been raised.However, some concerns about the plans have been raised.
Mike Alcorn of Rose Energy says the plant would produce green electricityMike Alcorn of Rose Energy says the plant would produce green electricity
SDLP assembly member Thomas Burns said: "Whilst we would welcome any alternative energy force, we would feel this is in the wrong location.SDLP assembly member Thomas Burns said: "Whilst we would welcome any alternative energy force, we would feel this is in the wrong location.
"This is a very rural area, a very narrow road, it's going to be a tremendous amount of heavy vehicle traffic on this road and we would much prefer to see this in a larger industrial estate.""This is a very rural area, a very narrow road, it's going to be a tremendous amount of heavy vehicle traffic on this road and we would much prefer to see this in a larger industrial estate."
The plant would also use the meat and bone meal produced in the area and some residents fear odour problems will only get worse.The plant would also use the meat and bone meal produced in the area and some residents fear odour problems will only get worse.
Sinn Fein assembly member Paul Butler said local people should "engage in the consultation process announced by the company".Sinn Fein assembly member Paul Butler said local people should "engage in the consultation process announced by the company".
Rose Energy said it will address all concerns about the plant and Mr Alcorn said the technology used in the construction would limit odours.Rose Energy said it will address all concerns about the plant and Mr Alcorn said the technology used in the construction would limit odours.
The poultry industry in Northern Ireland employs about 7,000 people, producing 1.8m birds a week.The poultry industry in Northern Ireland employs about 7,000 people, producing 1.8m birds a week.