Information for Avonmouth Low Carbon Energy Facility, Former Britannia Zinc Site, Kings Weston Lane (Avonmouth)
Status: PreventedPlanning Region: South West
Planning Sub-Region: Bristol
Operator: Zeus Renewables
Capacity: 156,343
Campaign Group(s): Contact coordinator@ukwin.org.uk to be put in touch with those opposing this development.
Notes: Gasification and pyrolysis incinerator granted planning permission in October 2010 [Source, Source]. Began exporting energy to the grid in June 2013 [Source]. Ceased operations in 2016. In August 2021 Bristol City Council approved an application to increase capacity from 120ktpa to 156ktpa [Source]. It appears that the new owners Zeus have expanded the feedstock to include waste wood as well as RDF but have yet to apply to vary their permit accommodate this planning change [Source]. According to a July 2014 letter to shareholders, there was an intention for New Earth to sell the facility to Macquarie Bank due to the "...continuing poor performance of the ERF plant", and an acknowledgement that the facility "carries significant risk as to its ultimate success" [Source]. In June 2016 it was decided that due to the failure of the plant to operate on a typical RDF feedstock: "It was agreed to suspend activity at the plant in order to undertake a major redevelopment programme, designed to address operational problems, including the potential switch of fuel supply from RDF - a key requirement of the redevelopment being that the site can operate on a readily available, consistent feedstock" - it was stated that "it is anticipated that these works will commence during 2017 and that operations at the plant may re-commence during 2018" [Source]. Issued permit JP3535CE. Understood to have been abandoned. (Entry updated 2023-08-31)
Environment Agency Compliance Assessment Reports
Click here to see the incinerator compliance documents for existing English incineratorsStandard notice:
UKWIN (and therefore the UKWIN map) focuses on Municipal Waste Incinerators, whereas our colleagues at Biofuelwatch focus on biomass projects. If you are interested in biomass incinerators (including waste wood plants) over 20MW then please see the Biofuelwatch map of UK Biomass Power Stations. Those concerned about biomass plants, including waste wood plants, should email Biofuelwatch at biofuelwatch[at]gmail.com.Please be aware: There is always room for improvement, so please send updates to coordinator@ukwin.org.uk. Existing Incinerator means a facility that is operational or under construction/commissioning. A Potential Incinerator is a facility where there is a proposal for an incinerator (e.g. planning application or planning consent) or other reason to believe an incinerator might be built/proposed in the future. A Prevented Incinerator is something which used to be a proposal or expected incinerator which we do not believe is currently being progressed (e.g. because the project was cancelled, planning permission refused, or years have gone by since the permission was granted without any progress) - in some cases a facility marked as prevented is being progressed without us being aware or is subsequently revived. Capacity is usually the permitted or maximum advertised capacity of the facility.