Plans lodged for plant to turn waste fruit into gas

A factory could be home to a plant that turns waste fruit into renewable gas.

An application has been made for an anaerobic digestion plant at the Del Monte factory off Weasenham Lane in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

If approved, it would produce biomethane for the national gas grid, and carbon dioxide for use in the food and drink industry.

Cambridgeshire County Council has objected to the plans, citing concerns about the proposed plant's drainage system.

The facility would use old fruit to create gas for the grid and would be built on an undeveloped part of the site.

Each year, it would use 28,000 tonnes of fruit residue from the factory, 20,000 tonnes of straw and 15,000 tonnes of water.

Del Monte, which currently takes its fruit waste long distances to other facilities, said the plant would allow it to process materials locally instead, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In its application to Fenland District Council, Del Monte said the project would support government targets for renewable energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based fertilisers.

The county council's objection to the plans cites a lack of an outfall for the surface water lagoon, which it warned could pose risks if the plant malfunctioned or was decommissioned.