Acorn Bioenergy allays safety fears for its proposed anaerobic digestion plant near Haverhill

An explosion at an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant has provoked fears that a similar incident could happen at a proposed AD plant near Haverhill – should the scheme get the go ahead.

A gas container at the Severn Trent Green Power waste plant at Cassington, near Oxford, was struck by lightning on October 2, causing a fireball to light up the sky. Nobody was hurt.

Now, a group formed to campaign against the proposal by Acorn Bioenergy to build an AD plant on land in Withersfield, next to the A1307 and close to Haverhill, has raised concerns that something similar could happen there.

Muck Off Acorn spokesman, Indy Wijenayaka, said: “The local community are extremely concerned about this. Whilst we always knew the dangers this highlights those dangers.

“It also happened to a well established company like Severn Trent. Can Acorn, with no proven track-record, ensure the safety of people in Withersfield and Haverhill?

“It seems that there are many issues with these types of sites. The Severn Trent one in Oxfordshire the other day, there was one in 2016 also in Oxfordshire and another one in Avonmouth, and I’m sure there are plenty more near misses.

“Biomethane is highly flammable and needs far more controls than what is being followed right now.”

AD plants convert food waste, such as rye, maize, straw and poultry litter into biogas which is upgraded on site into biomethane.

A spokesman for Acorn Bioenergy said: “Whilst lightning strikes are extremely rare, Acorn will prepare for every eventuality by designing the digester tanks with effective lightning protection.

“Acorn will be compliant with the regulation standards for lightning protection as a critical part of these control measures.

“It is crucial to Acorn’s values that we meet the highest health and safety standards throughout the operation of the proposed plant.

“In this way, Acorn will continuously adapt to extreme weather events and strengthen our plants in line with changing climates and regulation.”

Muck off Acorn is holding a public meeting about the proposed AD plant on Friday, October 20, at 7pm at the EpiCentre, Haverhill Research Park.