02 JULY 2026

In response to concerns that have been raised about the presence of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue appliances at our renewable natural gas facility near Wincanton last thursday, we’re happy to provide the following information.  First and foremost, it is important to state that there was no fire on the site and the Fire Service were there in a precautionary capacity only.

As part of standard, routine maintenance, our operations team was replacing the specialised filter material used to clean and purify the biogas as part of the upgrading and grid injection process. This occurs roughly once every 6-months. During this process, it is an unusal occurrence but certain natural chemical compounds that have become attached to the filter media during its use can release energy, causing the material to self-heat.

As a highly regulated facility, we operate under strict safety protocols. Our operators detected elevated temperatures during the media change and in full compliance with our  Emergency Response Plan, requested the attendance of the local fire service to monitor the situation alongside us and stand by as a standard precautionary measure.

The fire service remained on site for approximately two hours to monitor temperatures, which safely decreased. They returned briefly at 19:00 to confirm that temperatures had fully normalised. The filter was safely cooled with water overnight, and the maintenance work was completed the following day without further incident.

At no point was there any danger to the public, our staff, or the integrity of the plant. The presence of the fire service was a demonstration of our “safety-first” commitment.

We’d like to thank the Devon and Somerset Fire Service for their prompt and professional service.

We thank you for your interest in the project. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via our website, form, email or phone number.