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Birmingham Bio Power is a renewable power facility located at the Tyseley Energy Park in south-east Birmingham. It recovers up to 10.3MWe of electricity from approximately 72,000 tonnes of waste wood per year using gasification technology.
There are 25 permanent jobs. Local goods and service providers are being used wherever possible. The facility generates sustainable clean electricity from renewable biomass sources exported directly to the local power grid for use by local consumers.
Power generated from biomass is an important form of renewable energy, helping to decarbonise the energy system by replacing fossil fuels. By using non-recyclable material for fuel, facilities such as Birmingham Bio Power can also help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
The facility will process up to 72,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste wood per year. It will accept grades A to C waste wood, primarily Grade C.
Grade A is ‘clean’ recycled wood produced from pallets and secondary manufacture.
Grade B may contain Grade A wood, together with other waste wood sourced from construction and demolition activities, waste transfer stations, civic amenity sites and the manufacture of furniture from solid wood.
Grade C is made up of reclaimed waste wood from discarded furniture and other wooden fixtures and fittings. It can include MDF and chipboard material as well as wood.
The facility will not accept waste wood which is classified as hazardous.
The facility is privately funded.
There are several other facilities in the UK that use the same or similar technology as Birmingham Bio Power.
The Cobalt Group also operates the “sister” plant to Birmingham Bio Power, which is located near Lutterworth in Leicestershire.
The facility is owned by Birmingham Bio Power Limited (BBPL).
Tyseley Operations Limited (TOL) have been awarded an operations and maintenance agreement by BBPL to operate the facility.
BBPL holds the contract for fuel with an external supplier although the delivery, testing and acceptance of fuel is managed day to day by TOL.
Nexterra Systems Corporation gasification technology is used at the facility. Nexterra is a global developer and supplier of gasification technology for Energy from Waste (EfW) plants.
Once waste wood arrives on site, it is initially stored in the fuel hall before being placed on to the conveying system. The conveying system removes both ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the wood before it enters the four gasifiers.
Within the gasifiers, a fuel pile forms. The fuel moves through the progressive stages of gasification: drying, pyrolysis, combustion, cracking and reduction. A tightly controlled amount of air (oxygen) is introduced via nozzles in the cones to enable controlled combustion. Syngas is extracted from the top of the gasifier and is combusted with combustion air (oxygen) in four oxidisers to generate steam, which is used to drive a turbine. This in turn drives an electrical generator to produce electricity.
Flue gases are treated to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and heavy particulates, before exiting to the atmosphere via the stack. The stack emissions are monitored using a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) to ensure they are in accordance with the Environmental Permit conditions.
Bottom ash, fly ash and Air Pollution Control Residues (APCr) are conveyed away from the process, stored and then treated at regulated facilities off site.
The facility uses a small amount of natural gas to engage the start-up burners. Once the process is up to temperature, the start-up burners are disengaged and the process becomes self-sustainable.
The process produces minimal by-products. By-products include effluent water, incinerator bottom ash (IBA), Air Pollution Control Residues (APCr), fly ash and flue gases.
Minimal effluent water is treated on site and reused where possible.
Incinerator bottom ash is disposed of by a licensed operator and may be utilised in aggregate production.
Air Pollution Control Residues and fly ash are treated at a licensed facility off-site.
Flue gases are treated to render them safe in accordance with the Environmental Permit conditions before they are released to the atmosphere via the facility stack.
The facility was commissioned in 2016 with a design life of 25 years.
The facility will operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. This includes both operation and maintenance.
Waste facilities are regulated by the Environment Agency through an Environmental Permit. The Environment Agency will check for compliance throughout the facility’s lifetime.
As part of the Environmental Permit application, an air quality assessment was undertaken. The assessment uses a dispersion model which sets out the area where emissions from a facility may come into contact with the environment.
This assessment then compares existing air quality in the dispersion area with the potential impact of the emissions from the facility. The dispersion modelling concluded that emissions from the plant would not significantly impact local air quality.
The stack emissions are monitored using a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) to ensure they are in accordance with the Environmental Permit conditions.
The majority of process emissions are composed of gases which are already present in the atmosphere:
- Oxygen
- Water vapour
- Carbon dioxide
- Nitrogen oxides
Trace amounts of:
- Carbon monoxide
- Very small amounts of dust
- Trace amounts of gaseous and vaporous organic substances, expressed as total organic carbon
- Trace amounts of sulphur dioxide and trioxide
- Trace amounts of hydrogen chloride
- Trace amounts of hydrogen fluoride
- Trace metals
- Very small amounts of dioxins and furans, which are virtually undetectable.
These emissions are all governed by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and must be sampled and monitored. Results are recorded, controlled and audited under the Environmental Permit issued for the facility, these results are submitted to the Environment Agency as per the regulations.
These emissions are governed by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and must be sampled and monitored. Results are recorded, controlled and audited under the Environmental Permit issued for the facility.
Industrial facilities undertaking specific types of activity are required to use best available technology (BAT) to reduce emissions to air, water and land. BAT and operational standards are employed at the facility.
Any emission breaches will be dealt with immediately, by means of process control or facility shutdown and reported to the Environment Agency.
Under normal operational conditions there will be a minimal visible plume from the stack. The plume may be more visible at close proximity to the stack output, depending on atmospheric conditions.
The facility must comply with all issued permits and consents, which in turn are issued in accordance with current legislation.
Tyseley Operations uses an Integrated Business Management System (IBMS) which consists of policies, processes, and procedures, written to conform to all issued consents.
Industrial facilities undertaking specific types of activity are required to use best available technology (BAT) to reduce emissions to air, water and land. BAT and operational standards are employed at the facility.
All emissions will be sampled and monitored (using accredited and calibrated equipment, including off site laboratories), recorded, controlled, and audited under the Environmental Permit issued for the facility.
The key regulators for the facility are:
- The local authority – Birmingham City Council
- Environment Agency (EA)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
As part of the Environmental Permit application, a noise assessment was conducted. This noise assessment establishes the baseline noise levels in the locality of the nearest receptors and sets an acceptable noise level for the facility. The facility has been designed to comply with this acceptable noise level during full operation.
The process will not produce an odour outside the facility boundary during normal operations.
Yes, the facility is safe for both staff and the public. It was designed in accordance with all applicable standards and safety legislation and is operated and maintained in accordance with all applicable standards and legislation. The plant is also audited and accredited by licensed third parties. It is certified and insured accordingly.
The facility is designed in accordance with all applicable standards and safety legislation and is certified and insured accordingly – this includes all emissions outside the facility boundary.
Tyseley Operations uses Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Safe Working procedures (SWPs) as part of an Integrated Business Management System (IBMS) which together form part of the monitoring system. We undertake risk assessments for all our operational activities that protect the wellbeing of staff, contractors, visitors, the general public and the environment.
There is no scientific evidence to support this. Research studies conducted and published to date have found that there is no conclusive link between such facilities’ activities and public health issues in the surrounding localities.
A lot of detailed research has been completed and published by public and private organisations in the UK and across the world.
The research that has been conducted and published to date has found that there is no conclusive link between such facilities’ activities and public health issues in the surrounding localities.
Part of the planning and permitting process includes an Environmental Impact Assessment, the findings from such assessments assist the decision making process as to whether or not to grant consent for the facility.
The facility does not discharge to local waterways.
In normal operations the majority of process water is constantly reused at the site, any excess is discharged to a local sewer system after primary treatment at the site. Surface rainwater is separately collected to process water and this does discharge to a nearby waterway.
- The local authority – Birmingham City Council
- Environment Agency (EA)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Appointed independent professional consultants.
Any job opportunities will be posted on our ‘jobs’ webpage with details on how to apply.
Operational goods and service suppliers can register their interest by contacting admin@tyseleyoperations.co.uk
Yes, it provides 25 jobs in the local community, and uses local goods and services suppliers where possible.
Please contact admin@tyseleyoperations.co.uk
