PLANS for Dorset’s first hydrogen fuel processing facility have been submitted to BCP Council

Canford Renewable Energy is applying to expand its operations from the former landfill at Canford Resource Park with proposals to power it through an adjoining solar park.

It said the facility would produce enough hydrogen each year to fuel the equivalent of 900,000 miles travelled by lorries.

Submitted last month, Canford Renewable Energy’s planning application covers more than 11 hectares of land at the restored White’s Pitt landfill off Magna Road.

Should it be approved, the development would be permitted to remain on the green belt site for 40 years.

“The landowner is keen to extend his existing landfill gas renewable power generation to establish Dorset’s first hydrogen fuel production facility,” a statement submitted with the application says.

It adds that there are “in principle offers” for grants from both Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and the Dorset Low Carbon Energy scheme for the project.

The hydrogen facility would produce an estimated 150,000kg of fuel per year and replace the equivalent of 900,000 miles travelled by diesel lorries.

The 5mwp solar park will power it with any surplus energy being diverted to the resource park for use.

“It is considered that the combination of the careful siting of the [solar panels], battery and hydrogen facilities, screening bunds and additional 2ha of habitat planting, ensures the scheme can be successfully assimilated into the landscape and green belt scene without anything other than localised, negligible adverse visual impacts which are of no significance beyond the immediate area,” the statement adds.

It said the facility would be the first of its kind in the county.

Should the scheme be approved by BCP Council planning officers, the firm said construction was expected to take eight weeks to complete.

“The temporary proposed development is fully reversible and would generate a very low level of activity during operations lifetime, due to its passive nature and one hydrogen gas collection each day and approximately two maintenance visits per month,” the statement adds.