Public Notice

Thurrock Power Limited – a Statera Energy Group Company

PROPOSED CONSULTATION AND STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION NOTICE

Thurrock Power Limited (Thurrock Power), a Statera Energy Group Company, proposes to develop a flexible generation plant on land north of Tilbury Substation in Thurrock (the Project). The flexible generation plant will provide up to 600 megawatts of electrical generation capacity on a fast response basis when called for by the National Grid, together with up to 150 megawatts of battery storage capacity.

This notice explains more about the Project and provides information about where a more detailed explanation of the proposed consultation with the local community can be accessed.

The flexible generation plant comprises reciprocating gas engines, batteries, and associated electrical and control equipment. A new access road and a gas pipeline connection to the gas national transmission system will be developed. The electrical export connection will be via underground cables to the immediately adjacent National Grid Tilbury Substation. Subject to public consultation, planning and finance, the flexible generation plant could enter commercial operation towards the end of 2021.

The proposed development will be designed to operate for at least 35 years, after which ongoing operation and market conditions will be reviewed. If it is not appropriate to continue operating after that time, one or both facilities (gas engines or batteries) will be decommissioned.

The proposed development is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act 2008, which means that a Development Consent Order (DCO) is required to build, operate and maintain it.

Due to the nature and size of the Project, Thurrock Power is undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Project is therefore classified as an EIA development. The EIA will consider the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the Project including air quality, noise, visual and cumulative impact, traffic, local ecology, archaeology and heritage and socio-economics.

The DCO application will be processed and examined by the Planning Inspectorate who will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The final decision on whether to grant the application will be made by the Secretary of State.

Formal consultation with local people, businesses and other organisations is an essential part of the DCO application process and will help influence the final design of the Project. Only after all consultation responses have been considered will the Project design be finalised and the application for DCO be submitted.

The Government’s policies in relation to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are set out in National Policy Statements (NPSs). NPS EN-1 (Energy) states that: “gas will continue to play an important role in the electricity sector – providing vital flexibility to support an increasing amount of low-carbon generation and to maintain security of supply.” As the need for this type of development has been established by national policy, the principle of developing flexible generation is not a matter for consultation.

Thurrock Power has prepared a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), which sets out how it proposes to consult people living and working in the vicinity of the site about the proposed DCO application. This document is available for inspection on the Project website (www.thurrockpower.co.uk) and at the following public venues from the date of publication of this notice until the end of the formal consultation period (opening times may vary): the public consultation process, how to obtain further information, and how to provide feedback to Thurrock Power. These letters will be delivered on or around 2nd October 2018.

Households and businesses within a consultation zone specified in the SoCC will receive a letter informing them about

Public Consultation Exhibitions about the project will be held at the following locations and times:

From 16th October 2018, information about the proposed Project, including a ‘have your say’ document, a feedback form and a Preliminary Environmental Information Report containing a non-technical summary, will be made available for inspection on the Project website and at the following locations (opening times may vary): 

The formal consultation period will end at 11.59pm on 14th November 2018, and all feedback must be received by Thurrock Power by this time. Feedback may be made public, subject to current relevant data protection legislation.

Website: www.thurrockpower.co.uk Email: [email protected]; Telephone: 0207 1860580; Freepost: Freepost THURROCK POWER.