Tanks to be demolished at new biochar plant site

The tanks will be demolished and removed to make way for the new biochar plant

Process tanks at a former anaerobic digestion plant in Ludlow will be demolished and removed, a council has said.

Shropshire Council is preparing the Coder Road Business Park site to become a pyrolysis plant which will process biochar, a form of charcoal.

The work is expected to take four to six weeks to complete.

"While work has already begun to decommission the site, this next stage of demolition will involve works, such as breaking up the concrete bases beneath the old tanks, and may therefore cause some additional noise," said councillor Rob Wilson, cabinet member for transport and economic growth.

He added that contractors Cawarden would ensure noise was kept to a minimum.

The authority said the new plant would provide environmental benefits, as well as generating revenue which would help support council services.

The renewable energy and biochar produced can be sold for many uses in agriculture, construction and industry.

Shropshire Council has agreed a contract to operate the plant once it is complete.

"The creation of biochar is an innovative and sustainable way to produce positive environmental outcomes while generating an income to support delivery of essential public services, as well as reducing our net carbon emissions as a council," added Wilson.