Stevens & Bolton LLP has advised ENER-G Natural Power Limited on an innovative renewable energy project for Scottish Borders Council which will create enough green electricity to power more than 1,000 homes, while cutting annual carbon emissions by the equivalent of around 30,000 tonnes.
The project, at Easter Langlee Waste Disposal site near Galashiels, Scotland, takes away the local authority’s burden of controlling and disposing of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide. At the same time it has the capacity to generate up to 1.0MW of clean power for the national grid.
The landfill gas generation scheme has been designed, developed, financed, and is operated by Manchester-based sustainable power group ENER-G (www.energ.co.uk). The 15-year contract could create a significant income for Scottish Borders Council as well as cost savings in infrastructure at the site. The savings in carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to the Council planting three million trees.
“The Council is effectively turning a liability into an asset and the income will depend on electricity output,” said Hugh Richmond, Managing Director of ENER-G Natural Power. “We will be using two engines with a total rated capacity of 800kW minimum, and this capacity may be increased if there is sufficient gas production.
The Stevens & Bolton team was led by Beverley Flynn, with Victoria Pope, Catherine Davey (environmental) and Michael Laver (property).