THE company behind the controversial wood burning facility on Barry dockland has explained the facility in a bid to allay public concerns.

Biomass UK No.2 Ltd has submitted an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for a licence to operate the £50 million Woodham Road plant which has already been granted planning permission and appears to be under construction.

Barry Town Council, councillors Shirley Hodges and Pam Drake met with representatives on March 16.

The company has said it uses gasification as a means of combustion which is recognised and encouraged by the UK government as being an efficient means of generating green power.

The continuous operation facility would supply electricity via the grid which is equivalent to the annual energy usage of approximately 23,600 households based on an average UK household consumption of 3,300kWh, enough to cover Barry.

Construction involves 200 people and 20 full-time staff would be employed with more created in transportation with 11 HGV deliveries expected daily.

A Power Consulting Midlands Ltd representative said the plant would be smokeless, but it may be possible to see a heat haze immediately above the stack on some days. Noise levels would be within Vale council limits.

He said: “Feedstock will be sourced from a national feedstock company and the Cardiff-based contractor.

“The gasification process itself limits the contents of the emissions leaving the combustion chamber.

“The plant has an exhaustive fire prevention strategy that has been agreed with insurers specialising in the insurance of biomass power plants.

"The expenditure on fire suppression measures is extensive and represent best practice.”

He added: “It’s important to understand that the present environmental permitting application is not discretionary on the part of Natural Resources Wales.

"Its job is to check very carefully whether the measures proposed by the plant comply with requirements set down in law. If they do then the licence is granted.”

Barry Town Council will discuss whether to fund expert independent advice at a meeting at 7pm on Thursday, March 23.

All are welcome to attend the meeting.