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Weald WoodNet has brought together all the expertise required to establish
a wood fuelled heat supply company for the Southeast, Lignatherm Ltd.
The partners, Penrose Forest Products, Bioenergy Technology, Energy
for Sustainable Development and WoodNet have all individually worked
towards establishing wood fuel systems over the last decade. By joining
forces, experience and expertise from all parts of the heat supply chain
can combine to bring locally produced wood fuel into the energy market.
Funding
from the DTI and the New Opportunities Fund will enable Lignatherm, based
at the Woodland Enterprise Centre at Flimwell, to offer competitive prices
for heat supply to institutions, companies and individuals seeking to
reduce their environmental footprint, without having the uncertainties of
dealing with new technologies themselves.
Lignatherm will be selling renewable wood heat by the Kilowatt
Hour, and will take on responsibility for installing, maintaining and
fuelling the modern, automated equipment.
The offer of this heat sale service is open to all, from domestic to large
commercial premises. As well
as the immediate environmental benefits of renewable energy, significant
fuel cost savings will also be possible for those currently burning oil,
LPG or using electricity for heating.
The growth of wood heating will also have a positive benefit for
the landscape of the Southeast, offering a commercial motivation for
woodland management to provide wood fuel chips.
Penrose Forest Products, based
near Laughton, East Sussex, have an established large-scale chipping
system processing local timber by-products into graded woodchip. They are
well placed to act as a depot and processing plant for the area.
As the demand for woodfuel increases this model can be replicated
throughout the region. Penrose Forest Products and WoodNet, with funding
from SEEDA, will be testing different grades of chip in the wood-fuelled
heating system at the Woodland Enterprise Centre to establish the best
quality.
Bioenergy Technology,
from Framfield, East Sussex, install automated wood-heating plant around
the UK. The directors and employees of the company have had a long- term
relationship with numerous innovative installations including projects at
the National Botanic Gardens in Wales, Weobley School in Worcestershire
and the South West Schools project. Closer to home, a 275kW Bioenergy Wood Boiler has been
installed at Laughton Lodge and a 50kW boiler has been installed at the
Woodland Enterprise Centre. Both provide an environmentally sound solution
in terms of fuel use and pollution, as well as a 22% per annum saving on
running costs when compared to an oil boiler.
Bioenergy Technology has also recently commissioned an 80kW
installation for SEEDA at the Betteshanger colliery site in Kent.
Energy for Sustainable Development,
is the UK’s leading biomass services provider and works with local
authorities, private companies and community groups to help plan, develop
and implement biomass energy projects in the UK and internationally.
Their expertise is helping to establish new processes and
appliances to extend wood fuel availability, and to establish new
opportunities for commercial biomass development in the UK. ESD
established Unit(e), a green electricity company, for the purpose of
supplying to domestic customers electricity generated only from accredited
renewable generators.
Weald WoodNet would like to hear from potential heat supply customers and
landowners or businesses interested in supplying the developing woodfuel
industry. For further
information, contact Weald WoodNet on 01580 879552,
or email info@woodnet.org.uk.
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