Permission granted for biomass power station
The new power station will be located on the site of the former Asahi plant (pictured in 1997) in Killala.
Mayo County Council has granted planning permission for the revival of the development of a biomass power station in Killala that is intended to power a planned data centre adjacent to the site.
Permission has been granted to Mayo Renewable Limited (MRL) for an electricity generating station that will run on woody biomass chips to produce 50MW of electricity at Killala Business Park, the site of the former Asahi complex.
This project was first approved in 2011 and officially launched in 2015, with construction getting underway around that time.
However, after one year of work, the company behind the project, Mayo Renewable Limited (MRL), ran into funding difficulties and entered liquidation, putting the project on hold.
In 2018, MRL sought the assistance of Nexus PMG, a global management and consultation firm, to recommence the project and Nexus says it has now helped to re-develop the proposed project.
“MRL has successfully re-developed the project, echoing the same foundation as that of the original project but with a significantly reduced carbon footprint and improved approach to sustainability.”
A new application was submitted to Mayo County Council for the project last year which has now been approved.
Under the original plan, the facility was import 100% of its woody biomass from the United States.
The facility will now consume 40% biomass that is locally sourced from within Ireland including logs from thinning operations which support the improvement of forest health.
The biomass supplied is required to meet all the criteria for a chain of custody system to ensure it adheres to the sustainability and certification requirements.
The developers have said the facility will now consume 100,000 tons less wood fuel per annum than was previously planned and permitted and this will lead to about 20 trucks less per day on the road than previously planned.
Deliveries of imported biomass will arrive by ship at Killybegs, Co Donegal and will be transported via truck to the Killala site, passing through Sligo, Ballysadare, Dromore West and Ballina.
The total site area is 19 hectares of which approximately seven hectares will be developed and other elements of the proposed development include a roundwood storage area, enclosed wood chipper, ash silo and other associated works.
