The secretary of state for energy security and net zero has approved the construction of the Boston Alternative Energy Facility, paving the way for renewable power in the UK
The Boston Alternative Energy Facility is an advanced power-generation plant that will serve as an example of how land-based renewable power can work throughout the UK.
The application involves the construction of an energy-from-waste facility with a capacity of 102MWe gross (80MWe exportable). It also includes a lightweight aggregates facility, a wharf, a waste reception and storage facility, and a grid connection.
The Facility is designed to handle over one million tonnes of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) obtained from non-recyclable household waste supplied by UK providers. This process will produce power that roughly matches the annual energy consumption of 206,000 homes, which accounts for over 66% of households in Lincolnshire.
The Boston Alternative Energy Facility will benefit the local community
The Boston Alternative Energy Facility will contribute to the local economy by providing investment opportunities. Approximately 300 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with around 80 permanent jobs once the facility is operational.
Alternative Use Boston Projects Limited submitted the application to the Planning Inspectorate for review on 23 March 2021. It was accepted for Examination on 20 April 2021.
The plans were subjected to a thorough examination process
After an examination process, which provided the public, Statutory Consultees, and Interested Parties with the chance to present their evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were put forth to the secretary of state on 07 July 2022.
The Planning Inspectorate has completed examinations for 125 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, with this application being the 72nd energy project. All examinations have adhered to the designated timeframes specified in the Planning Act 2008.
“The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them,” said The Planning Inspectorate’s chief executive, Paul Morrison.
“Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other Interested Parties were able to participate in this six-month Examination,” he continued.
You can read the decision, along with the Examining Authority’s recommendation to the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, as well as the evidence considered by the Examining Authority, on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.
