Explosion sparks fears over proposed biogas plant
Explosion sparks fears over proposed biogas plant Suffolk News
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Anaerobic Digestion Plant Raises Safety Concerns
An explosion at an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant has raised concerns about the safety of a proposed AD plant near Haverhill. The incident occurred at the Severn Trent Green Power waste plant in Cassington, near Oxford, when a gas container was struck by lightning, causing a fireball. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Community Concerns
A group formed to campaign against the proposed AD plant by Acorn Bioenergy in Withersfield, near Haverhill, has expressed fears that a similar incident could occur at their location. The plant is planned to be built on land next to the A1307 and close to Haverhill. The local community is extremely concerned about the potential dangers of the plant, especially in light of the recent explosion.
Proven Track Record
The spokesperson for Muck Off Acorn, Indy Wijenayaka, highlighted the fact that Severn Trent, a well-established company, experienced the explosion. This raises doubts about whether Acorn, with no proven track record, can ensure the safety of people in Withersfield and Haverhill. Wijenayaka also pointed out that there have been previous incidents at AD plants in Oxfordshire and Avonmouth, indicating that there are many issues with these types of sites.
Flammability of Biomethane
Biomethane, which is produced by AD plants, is highly flammable and requires strict controls. Wijenayaka emphasized the need for more stringent safety measures to be followed in order to prevent accidents.
Acorn’s Response
In response to the concerns, Acorn Bioenergy stated that they will design the digester tanks at their proposed plant with effective lightning protection. They also assured that they will comply with regulation standards for lightning protection to ensure the safety of the operation.
Commitment to Health and Safety
Acorn Bioenergy emphasized their commitment to meeting the highest health and safety standards throughout the operation of the proposed plant. They stated that they will continuously adapt to extreme weather events and strengthen their plants in line with changing climates and regulations.
Public Meeting
Muck Off Acorn will be holding a public meeting on Friday, October 20, at 7pm at the EpiCentre, Haverhill Research Park to discuss the proposed AD plant and address community concerns.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the concerns raised by a group campaigning against the construction of an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. The issues highlighted in the article are related to energy production, infrastructure development, community safety, climate action, and land use.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
- SDG 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces.
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
- SDG 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning.
Based on the article’s content, the targets identified are related to increasing renewable energy share, ensuring sustainable infrastructure, providing safe public spaces, building resilience to climate-related hazards, and integrating ecosystem values into planning.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator: Percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix.
- Indicator: Number of sustainable infrastructure upgrades and retrofits.
- Indicator: Availability and accessibility of green and public spaces.
- Indicator: Resilience to climate-related hazards.
- Indicator: Integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values in planning processes.
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using indicators such as the percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix, the number of sustainable infrastructure upgrades, the availability and accessibility of green spaces, resilience to climate-related hazards, and the integration of ecosystem values in planning processes.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | Percentage of renewable energy in the energy mix. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. | Number of sustainable infrastructure upgrades and retrofits. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces. | Availability and accessibility of green and public spaces. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. | Resilience to climate-related hazards. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning. | Integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values in planning processes. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: suffolknews.co.uk
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