A SENIOR councillor at Bridgend County Borough Council has issued a statement clarifying the local authority’s position over a planning application for a proposed green energy plant at Brynmenyn Industrial Estate.
Speaking ahead of an independent public meeting where the application will be discussed by local residents, Councillor John Spanswick, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said: “The proposals for establishing a new green energy Hybont plant at Brynmenyn Industrial Estate have gathered a lot of attention and interest.
“They have understandably generated a number of questions and concerns from residents, but unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation has been circulating too.
“While the council is keen to address this and offer greater clarification, we also have to remain impartial as we are the relevant planning authority and a planning application has now been formally submitted – hence why we cannot attend the independently organised public meeting in person.
“What I would stress, therefore, is the absolute importance of ensuring that all opinions and views have been based upon the science and facts behind these proposals, and not on misinformation or rumour.
“It has been widely recognised at all levels that the reliance on fossil fuels cannot go on, and that new, cleaner types of energy and fuel must be developed.
“As an organisation, Bridgend County Borough Council is fully committed towards the Net Zero 2030 target set by Welsh Government.
“We have launched the Bridgend 2030 Net Zero Carbon Strategy which outlines what we will do to meet this commitment, and have formally recognised the climate emergency with our own Climate Emergency Response programme.
“Faced with the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis and huge increases in the costs of fuel, energy and basic resources, it is more important than ever for public services to develop and implement cheaper, greener sources of energy in order to offer value for money, and to ensure that our own resources are invested wisely and for maximum benefit.
“It is also important to acknowledge that safe, hydrogen-based technology is already in use across the UK and Europe where it forms part of a growing move towards tackling climate change by increasing the availability of clean renewable energy, and decarbonising vehicles.
“Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, making it a clean and emissions-free alternative to traditional hydrogen produced using fossil fuels.
“For the council, if such a facility were to go ahead, it would represent a £31m investment into sustainable energy and an opportunity for upgrading our fleet of service vehicles such as recycling and waste collection trucks and local public transport vehicles, such as buses. It would also help us to invest our resources more effectively, and to make significant progress on our environmental objectives.
“Throughout all of this, I can assure you that public safety remains a top priority, and Bridgend County Borough Council would neither approve nor commit to any scheme if we genuinely believed it posed a risk to the wider community.
“Like many of the existing businesses and industries that are already based at Brynmenyn, hydrogen plants are specifically designed with safety in mind. Pipe work is buried below ground, fire walls are built around key parts of the plant, and vehicular access is strictly controlled and devised so that refuelling takes place well away from plant storage and machinery.
“Such technology is already safely in use across the UK. In London, 22 new hydrogen buses have been introduced which is the equivalent of removing 836 petrol cars from the road. In Aberdeen, 15 hydrogen buses have already jointly travelled more than a million miles while saving 1,700 tonnes of emissions.
“The site at Brynmenyn Industrial Estate has been put forward mainly because of its proximity to an existing bus depot, the fact that hot water generated as a by-product can be used to heat local facilities in the wider community, and because of the potential for locating and linking to a solar farm nearby.
“The proposed new plant would be based alongside existing industries within Brynmenyn Industrial Estate. If successful, it would occupy a small, extensively landscaped site, and the only by-products would be oxygen and water.
“The council is currently in the process of analysing all feedback received on the planning application submitted by Marubeni, and the results will be reported back to a future meeting of the Development Control committee.
“In the meantime, Marubeni has established a website which offers a wealth of reliable, accurate data on the Hybont proposal, including a fact sheet, sets of answers to frequently asked questions, artist impressions for how an approved, finished project would look, and more.
“I strongly urge anyone who has an interest in this issue to view the information directly by visiting www.hybont.co.uk. You can also view the planning application and accompanying documentation by visiting the planning pages of www.bridgend.gov.uk .”
