The ‘green gas mill’ will be built at Sparsholt College in Hampshire, as “alternative to fracking in Britain”.
Ecotricity announced the rollout of the new green gas plants in April. The firm estimates that 95 per cent of UK domestic and commercial gas needs could theoretically be met by making green gas from grass and injecting it straight into the grid.
The project will also enable a new gas connection that will allow local residents to get cheaper mains gas.
Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “It’s a very exciting new concept – green gas is carbon neutral, it supports food production, it’s sustainable, and it actually benefits wildlife and the local environment, creating new habitats.”
The method can make a big contribution to reducing carbon emissions, as well as making the UK more energy independent, he added.
“Compare that to fracking, which Defra’s recent report has shown has significant environmental and health risks – and could even reduce house prices by up to 7 per cent – and that’s before any of the problems start happening.”
Ecotricity has begun a consultation process designed to inform local residents about the plans, get feedback, and gather opinion, but it’s optimistic ambitions for the grass-to-gas initiative may yet falter if government were to scrap the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Recently, biogas advocates have voiced growing concern about this possibility says that their burgeoning sector would be brought to an “immediate halt” should the RHI be curtailed.