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What would the main fuel for the biomass plant be?
Snetterton Biomass Plant would burn biomass in the form of straw (cereals and oilseed rape); with a proportion of other biomass (e.g. miscanthus and wood chippings), instead of traditional fossil fuels like gas and coal, to generate 40MWe (Megawatt Electrical) of renewable electrical energy. This is enough energy to meet the annual electricity consumption of 68,000 households.
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Where will the fuel come from?
Snetterton Biomass Plant will result in a £9 million annual investment in the East Anglian agricultural economy from fuel supply contracts from within the region, where possible. The availability of straw following the 2011 drought was a main concern at the public exhibition. Following the exhibition, Iceni Energy facilitated a number of meetings with the National Farmers Union, The Pig Farmers Association and Anglia Farmers to help local farmers avoid any straw supply issues.
Some farmers currently choose not to bale their straw. Previously this straw would have been burnt in the field, however following a European ban on burning the straw, these farmers now select to plough the straw back into the ground. Snetterton Biomass Plant therefore creates a need for this surplus straw.
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How much fuel would be used?
Snetterton Biomass Plant would consume around 250,000 tonnes of fuel per year.
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Will the plant ever be used to incinerate chemical waste?
Snetterton Biomass Plant will not be capable of burning waste of any kind, including chemical waste and waste wood.