"Strip gasifier of ROCs", demand Derby FOE - 16 July

Derby Friends of the Earth have called on electricity regulator OFGEM to withdraw preliminary accreditation of ROCs for the Isle of Wight gasification plant for the following breaches of RO Generator Guidance. Additionally they have asked for an investigation and audit of the plant. The group states:
 
- The IOW gasifier is currently shut down as it breached dioxin emissions - we believe this constitutes a 'major' or 'material' change, especially as the plant has been shut down for almost half of its operational life, due to 'technical difficulties' Dioxin is caused by the burning of coloured plastics, most of which can be recycled, threfore also calling into question the plant's eligibility as 'renewable energy'
 
Evidence of this has been sent to the campaigning groups SSAIN - Sinfin, Spondon and All Against Incineration and can be provided if so wished
 
This means that full data will not have been provided to OFGEM for electricity production, as per the guidance. Thus statutory requirements are not being fulfilled and the conditions in 5.11 are not being met. -

4.15 We would like to ask if OFGEM are completely satisfied that the IOW incinerator boilers and turbines were all fitted after December 1989 as the IOW gasifier was shutdown and new parts were retro-fitted into the old.
 
5.45 We believe that accreditation should be withdrawn for the above reasons as the developer appears not to have informed OFGEM of the plant shutdowns, the total amounts of plastics which have been destroyed and other information. For example, has the developer informed OFGEM that the probes corroded due to the acid gases being produced?
 
EA CARS forms - sent to the campaigning groups SSAIN - Sinfin, Spondon and All Against Incineration - reveal that heavy metals have also been found in the ash fromthe plant, again revealing that non-biodegradable waste is being burned.
 
6.5, 6.22. 6.23
The gasifier has used more input electricity that has been created. Inorder to start up theplant after many shutdowns vast quantities of fuel oil have been used. It s not clear if this was used to augment the amount of electricity determined to be eligible (7.3)  and we hope that OFGEM will satisfy themselves as to this important question.
 
We also believe that the vast water usage of the gasifier further negates its being termed 'renewable energy' though realise that this does not fall within OFGEM's remit.