W4B Renewable Energy are another company wanting to cash in on massive government subsidies for for burning biofuels. They planned to source most of the fuel from South-east Asian palm oil. Producing 1 MW of electricity from burning vegetable oil like palm oil attracts up to twice the subsidies (Renewable Obligation Certificates or ROCs) as the same energy from onshore wind. Another company, Vogen, whose application for a very similar power station was refused in Newport, South Wales, last week had stated that they expected 60% of all their revenues to come from subsidies.

Concerns about the impacts of palm oil, including on the climate, were shared by several Councillors.