Clean Tech Scotland

South Lanarkshire Council has given the go-ahead on a £22.5m biogas facility that will turn waste into energy with the potential to power 2,800 homes.

Proactive Energy, a new and pioneering renewable energy company has had its plans for a five megawatt anaerobic digestion plant approved.  The plant will be the first to adorn the new M74 Eco-Park, based between Glasgow and Carlisle.  Construction will start by April 2010 and the plant is scheduled to begin operations by the first quarter of 2011.

Methane rich biogas will be generated by using bacterial cultures on organic waste within enclosed silos.  The captured biogas will be burnt in fuel engines to generate electricity, which can then be fed into the National Grid.  Proactive Energy has said it is currently looking for sources of organic waste.

Ron Coakley, director of Proactive Energy commented: “We’re absolutely delighted that our new, sustainable biogas plant has been given the go-ahead.  I would like to say a huge thank you to South Lanarkshire Council for all the help and support they have provided throughout the planning process.”

“Our total commitment to a cleaner and safer environment is supported by our initial £22.5 million investment. This demonstrates our ambition and vision for providing state-of-the-art and cost effective waste disposal solutions with huge environmental spin-offs.”

Councillor Graham Scott, chair of the Planning Committee which approved the proposal, said: “This is an exciting plan, and one of the most unique we have seen at this committee. As an alternative to landfill it is in itself to be welcomed, but the developer’s commitment to recycling and re-use across the facility is genuinely admirable.”

This is another step in the right direction in achieving Scotland’s renewable energy vision.

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