Wood provides heat for South West Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission in the South West has taken the lead in promoting green energy and best practice by installing a wood pellet boiler to heat its new offices in Kennford.

Exeter-based renewables company Fair Energy has installed a new biomass heating system to provide heat for the woodland organisation’s new regional office. The organisation’s regional branch recently relocated to a refurbished site in Haldon Forest Park, and is now saving an estimated 6 tonnes in carbon emissions each year by replacing electric storage heaters.

Keen to heat its new regional base using a sustainable supply of wood from domestic sources, the Forestry Commission chose a 15kW fully automated biomass wood pellet boiler, designed and installed by Fair Energy ahead of the relocation.

As the first Forestry Commission office in the South West to adopt a green energy heating system, the regional branch hopes the installation will encourage others to follow suit.

Mark Prior, Partnerships and Expertise manager at the Forestry Commission, said: “As the Government organisation responsible for woodlands and forests, we encourage sustainable management of woodlands. Producing woodfuel can bring under managed woodlands back to life and provide a source of income, Supplied locally it is a great carbon-lean option.

“Relocating our office provided the opportunity to invest in renewable energy and the design and technical abilities of the Fair Energy team made them the perfect choice to lead the project. Wood chip fuel would have been the natural choice due to the location of the installation, however due to the space available for the boiler, and the heating and hot water requirements, Fair Energy recommended a wood pellet system.

“Our boiler has taken prime location in our office foyer and so far, we’ve had a very positive reaction to it. The ongoing aftercare from Fair Energy following the install has been excellent.”

Recognised for its technical and engineering expertise, Fair Energy met tough criteria including stringent health and safety issues to carry out the install, working vigilantly around other contractors to ensure the office was warm for its opening during the cold January climate.

Kirsten Parrick, director of Fair Energy, said: “As a company dedicated to making a lasting difference to the environment, we are pleased to help an organisation that works with the same values at heart find a heating solution in renewable energy.

“We anticipate there will be income from the Renewable Heat Incentive of £2,200 a year, with £1,500 saved annually on fuel. This is a great example of how biomass can provide a convenient and affordable solution for local businesses.”

With the support of Fair Energy, the regional Forestry Commission office is currently applying for a return from the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive scheme – a subsidy scheme to incentivise commercial properties to install renewable heat technologies – to help speed up payback on the installation.

The installation complements steps the regional office has already taken to minimise its carbon output, including increasing the insulation within the building as well as fitting double glazed windows and an entrance porch. To facilitate further investment in renewable energy, the boiler’s thermal store has been designed to allow the potential to add solar thermal to the building in the future.