The  proposals for a £360m biomass plant (right red outline) at Imperial Dock, Leith comprising a100m hight flue stack, boiler house, 65m high steam turbine building and biomass storage, to replace a grain silo and planned public park, could meet some of Edinburgh's energy needs, and goes on public show today at Ocean Terminal.

The proposed plant, a joint venture between Forth Ports and Scottish & Southern Energy, will, if approved, be one of the largest infrastructure developments in Scotland over the next decade processing between 750,000 and 1m tonnes of biomass material yearly, 70% of which will be brought in by sea, to generate up to 200MW of electricity and providing heat for nearby commercial buildings. The project is expected to create 150 construction jobs and 40 permanent jobs once the plant is up and running.

The release of outline details marks the beginning of public information and local consultations before plans are sent to the Scottish Government for approval. Application will be made under Section 36 of the Electricity Act. If Scottish ministers approve the proposals the detail will then be agreed with the planning authority.

Some dissenting queries
Questions raised  over the Leith proposals point out that these do not follow the previously agreed Masterplan or Outline Planning permission for the docks at all.

The site where the power plant is set to go, was earmarked by Forth Ports for residential use.

The areas shaded  red in the map above is where the plant is set to go. The new proposals represent a serious shift away from original plans.

Recession, and collapse in the residential property market has propelled Forth Ports to seek new ways to maximise value of its land holdings.

But this change of face has serious implications for the future of the whole Leith docks area.

While 70% of biomass is expected to come by sea, the balance of 400,000 tonnes worth must arrive by rail or by  road.

"What "ask Greener Leith commentators "does Forth Ports plan to do with the whole area of land between the Imperial Dock and the coastline?

"What are the implications for the planned coastal promenade path, if that area remains as an active port serving an industrial purpose?

"More detailed planning proposals for The Harbour, Leith Docks included two further, much smaller, sites designated as 'Energy Centres' (shaded red in the map above.) Presumably as those plans are now superceeded these are gap sites?

It looks as if the Abertay University's high-tech visual HIVE facility could now provide some highly valuable useful consultation visualisations for the impact of the city biomass moves on Leith's asthetic appearance.