Local Biomass Fuels Boiler

The winter period is the time when the cost of heating is to the forefront of many people’s minds. At Enniskillen Campus, things are no different. With the ever increasing cost of energy, and an annual usage of around 75,00 litres of  heating oil, the decision to install a 300kW KWB biomass boiler was made when the existing oil boiler was due for replacement.

The contract for the supply of biomass fuel was won by Rural Generation in Londonderry, and they are supplying locally grown short rotation coppice willow chip from the farm of the Thompson Brothers at Letterbreen. The chip is delivered by tipping trailer and the chip is blown into the fuel store using an Auer blower.

There will be an opportunity to view the biomass installation and the fuel delivery system at the ‘Practical On-farm Renewable Energy’ event which will be held at CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus on 22 February 2012.  With oil usage reduced by over 90 percent, the savings achieved using the system will also be discussed.

The event is being organised by DARD with the assistance of AFBI, Hillsborough and the UFU to provide practical information for farmers and the rural sector about the various renewable energy options available for their businesses. It follows the very successful recent event at Greenmount Campus where feedback recommended a similar event be held in the west of the province.

There will be a series of seminars throughout the day on each of the main renewable energy technologies; wind power, biomass production and utilisation, anaerobic digestion, solar hot water, micro-hydro, and heat pumps. A second series of seminars will deal with many of the issues facing those considering a green energy source.

Topics covered will include the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), grid connection, planning, NI Renewable Obligation Certificates (NIROC’s), business planning, taxation, as well as finance and funding options. In addition there will be a Trade Exhibition and the tours of the biomass installation. The event will run from 1.30pm until 10.00pm. For further details contact Connor Maguire at 028 6634 4853 or connor.maguire@dardni.gov.uk.

Connor Maguire, CAFRE and David Thompson, Letterbreen view the latest delivery of willow-chip for the Campus biomass boiler. The installation will be on view at the renewable energy event on 22 February at the Enniskillen Campus