Member Article

Thirsk biomass technology event to explain government funding incentives

Yorkshire business are invited to a free biomass information event in Thirsk looking at cost effective alternatives to fossil fuels.

The event, at Earley’s 12-acre site near Thirsk, will provide information on Government funding incentives, alongside understanding the technology which is widespread in Europe.

Site tours will include information on building suitability, boiler design, fuel handling and heat supply agreements, alongside funding options for biomass installations and the Renewable Heat Incentive.

It gives those working in the glasshouse sector, or looking at using biomass heat a chance to quiz those operating boilers on a day-to-day basis. Forest Fuels is not allied to any installer, so information will be impartial and presents those with an interest a chance to look in real detail.

Forest Fuels who are hosting the event, are a premium quality biomass fuel provider, with 500+ other contracts nationally ranging from the NHS, prisons, schools and homes.

Forest Fuels has a national network of local depots, 15 in total from Cornwall to Yorkshire. In 2012/13 Forest Fuels supplied over 100 million kWh of heat energy via its wood chip and wood pellet fuel sales, the equivalent of heating approximately 4000 average UK homes.

Earley Ornamentals who are partnering the event, are a leading, independent family-run business that is proud to be the selected partner for many of the UK’s leading commercial and retail growers. Over 180million young plants, made up of 1,500 varieties, are grown each year at Earley’s 12-acre site near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Also attending are boiler suppliers Ashwell Biomass who have been providing heat to industry from their Midlands base since 1879, as leading technological exponents to the horticultural sector, Stockbridge Technology Centre from Cawood, North Yorkshire and biomass installers EBTech Solutions from Hull.

There will also be representatives from the NFU and Horticultural Trades Association, HTA.

Earley Ornamentals, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, switched to biomass heating in 2013, heating 6 acres of glass, and cutting its energy bill by 25%.

Biomass replaced 3 oil-gas boilers, which used 250,000 litres of heating oil annually and now uses wood chip biomass fuel from Yorkshire’s forests.

The site runs two boilers, a bespoke 950kW system and a 199kW containerised system, reducing carbon emissions by over 95%. Installations of this size could earn £70 - 100k annually in RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) income a year.

Simon Earley, Managing Director at Earley Ornamentals says “As an energy intensive business we are always looking at ways of reducing our impact on the environment, not to mention spiralling fuel costs.

“Biomass brings much lower carbon emissions, improves energy efficiency by more than 20% and, by sourcing the wood chips locally allows us to support our rural economy.”

Peter Solly, Forest Fuels’ Managing Director “Forest Fuels sees biomass as a real opportunity for the commercial glass sector. With RHI, biomass offers significant cost savings for large heat users, particularly those reliant on oil or LPG.

“We are delighted to be running this event with Earley Ornamentals and look forward to meeting more growers who are interested in finding out more.”

Rudie Humphrey, Operations Manager for Forest Fuels “Earley Ornamentals is a key partner in this growing sector for biomass, it wold be great to spread the word of such a great project and see more growers stepping up to embrace the technology. Heating glass in a sustainable way is a really good news story, especially when so much of the region is working in horticulture.”

Matt Blood, Managing Director of installers EBTech Solutions, adds “Having worked in the UK glasshouse & heating sector for over 25 years, I am excited to share the company’s experiences in making biomass energy work. With fossil fuel prices high and rising, and the existence of the Renewable Heat Incentive, the time for biomass really is now.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .