A FISH smokery and an animal feed firm have both applied to install renewable energy biomass boilers in a bid to cut carbon emissions.

Severn and Wye Valley Smokery in Chaxhill, near Westbury-on-Severn, and Noble Foods in The Rocks, near Coleford, have made planning applications for the green technology.

The smokery, which currently employs 148 people at its Forest site and exports to Europe, the US and India, says it wants to obtain a zero carbon rating in the future.

It claims that the boiler will go a long way to meeting its 295kw energy requirement.

Noble Foods has applied to site a wood-fired 500kw boiler at its Clearwell Farm base in Lambsquay Road.

The application to Forest of Dean planners says it will provide steam for the animal feed process and will lower emissions by supplementing the existing oil-fired boiler.

It says: “By installing biomass boilers, the business can drastically reduce carbon output.”

The boiler would occupy a single storey building measuring 12 metres by six metres, and clean wood fuel will be sourced from a supplier on the Biomass Suppliers List.

Newland parish council has already given the scheme its backing.