Plan submitted to build anaerobic digestion facility near Winchester

The plant is for the land off Three Maids Hill roundabout, between the A272 and A34, next to the proposed super EV charging hub.

The aim of the facility is to provide renewable, carbon-negative energy for the UK by producing biomethane.

The site will also produce two by-products; digestate, which will be used as fertiliser on local farms, and CO2, which can be used for industrial purposes.

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Site area north of Three Maids Hill (Image: Acorn Bioenergy Limited's planning application submitted to WCC)

Acorn Bioenergy Limited has submitted the application to HCC to build and operate an anaerobic digestion site that will receive agricultural feedstocks from local farms and process these materials into methane for ‘injection into the national grid’.

The feedstock will be processed in the ‘anaerobic digestion tanks’ to generate a ‘raw biogas’ mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.

It's estimated that the site will provide “enough green gas” to meet the heating demand of 7,000 households and fuel demand equivalent to 270 HGVs a year.

The site area will be approximately five hectares and open from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday. During peak harvest periods, working hours will be extended as deemed necessary.

An in-person public exhibition took place last July to give residents, businesses and stakeholders detailed information about the project.

Some 79 people attended the exhibition and were encouraged to complete the feedback forms until July 25.

A number of residents raised concerns about increased traffic and congestion. They also pointed out air and noise pollution, and the lack of benefit to the community.

A resident’s comment said: “Concerned at the potential impact of this project on the Andover Road, creating more traffic, more HGVs and noise and air pollution.’ and ‘Traffic generated to bring in bio-mass and tankers to take the gas away after. No figures were given for the number of vehicles anticipated and how wide the collection area is.”

The applicant also receives positive feedback in support of the new site.

One neighbour said: “I was impressed by the proposed project and enthusiastically endorse your proposal. I believe that we will need to try renewable energy technology, both tried and tested and emerging to tackle anthropogenic climate change.”

Another added: “I am very much in favour of the Anaerobic digestion plan being given planning permission to be constructed at Three Maids Hill roundabout.”

Site layout (Image: Acorn Bioenergy Limited's planning application submitted to WCC)

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For its part, Acorn Bioenergy responded to people’s concerns. Addressing traffic issues, the company indicated the site would require “roughly” three HGV movements per day year-round – two movements for biomethane gas and one for CO2.

Acorn Bioenergy said: “Feedstocks delivery to the site will be, on average, 13 loads per day.”

“A significant proportion of vehicle movements will come from the supply of liquid and solid digestate to surrounding farms, amounting to just below nine loads per day.

“We do not expect any of these heavy vehicle movements to go through any of the main villages in the area, either Littleton, Sparsholt or Crawley.

“We are glad that we have received lots of positive comments from members of the local community.”

For more information about the application, go to Hampshire County Council with the HCC/2023/0256 reference number.