How was the site originally identified?
Margam Green Energy Plant was the second collaboration between Eco2 and Western Logs Group and the land was previously owned by them. The first project, Western Wood Energy Plant, was the first commercial scale biomass project in Port Talbot – which received an award for building excellence in 2009. This 40MW project burns forestry wood and clean wood processing residues in a state-of-the-art combustion plant. It has been one of the most reliable renewable energy plants in the UK.
Where is the power plant located?
It is located on land off Harbour Way (A4241), near Margam in South Wales. The land is part of a wider area that has been allocated for industrial use; the land is bound by the existing Western Bionergy Plant to the south, the A48 (Margam Road) and the M4 to the east and Margam Moors, the TATA Steelworks and the London to Swansea railway line to the west.
How was the local community originally consulted?
The local community were consulted as part of the local planning authority’s period of formal public consultation prior to determination of the planning application. The final planning application was secured in 2014.
What was the construction programme for the plant?
Construction of the plant began in 2016. In June 2019 the plant entered full commercial operation, generating electricity to the Grid.
What is the HGV traffic route to site? When is the power plant open for deliveries of waste wood?
The main access is off Harbour Way. The plant receives deliveries of waste wood seven days a week: between 6.00am and 10.00pm Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 4.00pm at weekends.
The plant receives approximately 50 deliveries of waste wood per day.
Trucks delivering the waste wood are held in an off-site holding area before being called-up to discharge their wood to the power station.
What type of waste wood does Margam process? How much waste wood is delivered to the plant each week?
The plant receives Grade C / Class P63 woodchip, approximately 6,000t per week. Grade C waste wood is typically sourced from municipal
collections, recycling centres, transfer stations and civic amenity recycling sites. We can also use Grade A and B waste wood.
How are the air emissions regulated?
The air emissions from the plant are controlled by the Environment Agency. A permit has been granted for Margam Green Energy Plant which sets out the conditions of operation for the plant. The conditions include requirements to monitor and report on emissions to the EA.
What was the overall cost of the project?
It’s a £160m project.
What are the benefits to the local economy? And the local community?
Margam is a long-term investment in the community which is making a financial contribution to the local economy. The construction of the plant employed up to 400 people at full capacity with a number Welsh businesses engaged as sub-contractors.
Onsite, the Margam plant directly employs 30 people, and indirectly about 50 people involved in the fuel supply side of our operations. Eco2 Ltd, headquartered in Cardiff, has responsibility for Margam’s fuel supply operations.
Schroders Greencoat, the owners of the Margam plant since April 2022, are supporting the local community through a Community Benefit Fund, which is administered by Neath Port Talbot Council. The Fund supports a range of community projects in the area.