BIOMASS IN ABERDEEN CITY AND SHIRE

Heating represents a significant proportion of Scotland’s total energy consumption but instead of using hydrocarbon fuels to meet these needs, there are other options available which can help to reduce our impact on the environment and assist us in meeting our 2020 energy targets.

In Aberdeen City and Shire, natural, renewable, biomass energy sources are readily available to meet our heat and power needs in a cost effective and sustainable way. The use of wood chips, pellets and logs, and the technology involved in generating and capturing the heat and power from these forms of fuel, is well proven and widely used across Europe.

Wood is a renewable energy source, capable of providing useful quantities of predictable base load for electricity and/ or heat generation and Aberdeen City and Shire is already using this form of renewable energy and has shown a desire to lead the way in the sector.

AREG is committed to encouraging the uptake of biomass projects in the region, not least because of its significant benefits to both the suppliers and users of wood fuel - it can considerably reduce power and heating costs, it is sustainable, affordable, practical, creates new jobs and uses existing local skills.

With most of Aberdeenshire unconnected to mains gas but with a good local supply of sawmill co-products wood fuel heating solutions provide an economical, environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to households, businesses and public buildings in the area.

Effective partnership working between the public and private sectors in the region has encouraged the development of robust supplier and installer supply chains and boilers with a combined output of 10 Megawatts have already been commissioned.

AREG is currently working with Aberdeen City Council to develop a renewable and low carbon heat strategy for the city. The goal is to establish a planned approach to providing for the city’s heat needs from a variety

of complementary and sustainable fuel sources. This approach will introduce best European practice to create a city-wide approach to this issue.

AREG has also been actively involved in the Grampian Biomass Working Group since 2007. The Group meets to discuss and assist in the development of a range of projects and share their experience. The working group is chaired by Iain Todd, AREG’s Renewables Champion, and co-ordinated by the Forestry Commission’s Ian Cowe.

In addition to these activities a number of other organisations in the region are supporting and encouraging the uptake of wood fuel as a renewable heat and power source.

THE FoRESTRY CommISSIoN SCoTlANDThe Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has played an influential role in developing wood fuel projects in the North East of Scotland. Its mission is to protect and expand Scotland’s forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment. Wood fuel harvested from managed forests helps to contribute towards improving the environment, mitigating against the effects of climate change, improving biodiversity, encouraging healthy living and providing recreation and education facilities.

For more information contact Ian Cowe on 01466 794542 or email ian.cowe@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

What’s Happening in Aberdeen City and Shire

Iain Todd - Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group Ian Cowe - Forestry Commission Scotland

SCARF SCARF is a local organisation offering advice on renewable energy issues. It provides householders, businesses and organisations with independent, free and impartial advice on the sustainable use of energy. The advice service includes home energy surveys, saving energy in your home and details of grants that are available to install insulation measures.

For more information contact Jean Morrison on 01224 213005 or email jmorrison@scarf.org.uk or visit www.scarf.org.uk

Duncan Botting - Executive Chairman and Interim CEO

Newly established in Aberdeen in 2009, SEGEC aims to support Scottish engagement in European activity and to support organisations overcome technological, financial and political barriers by influencing policy, identifying opportunities and accessing funding for large scale infrastructure projects.

This innovative approach is sponsored by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. SEGEC will play a catalytic role in accelerating the development, demonstration and deployment of new energy technologies, through its work in Scotland and with partners across Europe.

Heating represents forty percent of total energy consumed in the UK, and only one percent of this is generated using renewable sources. SEGEC has identified renewable heat as one of the key areas it must focus on if Scotland, the UK and the EU are to meet their 2020 targets. As one of its key priorities, SEGEC will look to identify the most appropriate combinations of technologies, partners and funding with a view to pushing the renewable heat sector forward in Scotland and Europe.

Within the renewable heat theme, biomass will have to make a significant contribution and the North East of Scotland has already shown a desire to lead the way in this sector. SEGEC is committed to working together with AREG to facilitate significant demonstration and deployment of biomass projects in the North East.

For more information contact Jamie Robinson, Thematic Manager – Renewable Heat on 01224 489980 or email jamie.robinson@segec.org.uk or visit www.segec.org.uk

The work of the Grampian Biomass Working Group has been supported from the outset by both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. Indeed, the development of biomass resources provides a perfect example of City and Shire working together. It is hoped that this co-operation will grow as the use of biomass for energy generation increases in the years to come.

SCoTTISH EuRopEAN GREEN ENERGY CENTRE (SEGEC)

ABERDEEN CITY CouNCIl AND ABERDEENSHIRE CouNCIl

RENEWABlE HEAT polICYThe UK and Scottish Governments wish to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a large contribution of their renewable heat and electricity targets from sustainable biomass sources. Scotland is aiming for 11% of the country’s heat to be produced from renewable sources by 2020 and for biomass to be one of the principal means. AREG believes that the North East of Scotland can play a key role in helping this to happen.

Government support for biomass initiatives to date has concentrated on grants, through the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme, and North East projects have benefitted significantly from this. A number of biomass projects in Aberdeen City and Shire have received a combined investment in excess of £8 million.

Financial support is however set to change in April 2011, when the new UK wide Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), administered by DECC, comes into force. Final details are still to be confirmed but the scheme will be designed to provide owners of eligible renewable heat systems a return on investment of 12% if installation is completed after 15th July 2009.

Eligible technologies for the 12% return are likely to include biomass and heat pumps with solar thermal installations qualifying for a lower rate of 6%. Installations need to be accredited and biomass boilers will need to meet air quality emission levels in order to qualify.

It is expected that this will bring a significant increase in demand for biomass installations and align our heating systems with what is already standard practice in other parts of Europe with a significant forestry industry, such as Scandinavia and Austria.

The RHI will also play to the strengths of both Aberdeen City and Shire, coupling the energy needs of the city with the resources readily available in Aberdeenshire. Such developments require the active participation of a number of organisations in addition to our two Councils.

WHY ABERDEEN CITY AND SHIRE?• Opportunityforrural

diversification and job creation.

• Plentifulresourcesfromforestry and farming.

• Goodtransportinfrastructure.

• Relevantskillsavailable.

• Needforheatandelectricity.

• Stakeholderenthusiasmandcommitment at all levels.

• ReinforcesourpositionasanEnergy Capital.

WHY BIomASS?• Technologyiswellestablished.

• Providessignificantemployment in fuel growth, harvesting, transportation, preparation, energy plant.

• Affordableenergy,notaffectedby fluctuating fossil fuel prices.

• Canprovideheatandpower.

• Environmentalbenefits–reduction in carbon emissions.

• Continuousenergy–doesnotsuffer from intermittency.

• Biomassissustainable,affordable, practical, creates new incomes and jobs and uses skills which can already exist locally.

• Itcanreducepowerandheating costs significantly.

public Sector projects

mARISCHAl CollEGEAberdeen City Council is currently refurbishing Marischal College to create its new headquarters in the city centre. As part of these refurbishments, the new heating system for the building will in part be fuelled by wood pellets. This use of renewable energy for heating is one of several sustainability features in the design of the new building.

For more information contact Andrew Sproull on 01224 523235 or email asproull@aberdeencity.gov.uk

DuTHIE pARk WINTER GARDENSA plan to use a biomass plant to heat Aberdeen’s Duthie Park Winter Gardens has been backed unanimously by Aberdeen City Council. The Winter Gardens are currently heated by an oil boiler and a gas boiler at an annual cost in the region of £130,000. The biomass plant will cost less than half that to run. The scheme is hoping to derive some of its fuel from surplus wood from the city’s parks. This could in due course lead to an income generating wood fuel production base in Aberdeen.

For more information contact Alan Findlay on 01224 585310 or email wintergardens@aberdeencity.gov.uk

FoRESTERHIll HoSpITAl ENERGY CENTRE A new energy solution for NHS Grampian’s Foresterhill Campus in Aberdeen (comprising Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and the University of Aberdeen Medical School) had been under discussion for a number of years and the outcome is believed to be the first use of wood fuel at a major acute NHS teaching hospital.

A review of energy consumption revealed that it would be of great benefit to install a major new Energy Centre, including biomass energy, which would significantly cut costs and furthermore reduceCO2 emissions.

The new Energy Centre will generate approximately 90% of the site’s electricity needs and provide 100% of the site’s heating needs. Using over 4,500 tonnes of wood chips each year, it is predicted that the Centre will save 4,500 tonnes of CO2 from the environment.

The centre will include a new gas fuelled turbine Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, a biomass steam boiler delivering renewable energy fuelled by the woodchips and two dual fuel (gas and light oil) steam boilers. This supports NHS Grampian, NHS Scotland and Government initiatives to implement more sustainable energy production methods to reduceCO2 emissions.

Gary Mortimer, NHS Grampian’s Acting Estates and Facilities Director said: “Most of the Foresterhill site’s electricity will be generated by the new Centre with the biomass boiler providing top-up heat.ThenewsystemwillmakesubstantialCO2 savings, and we are proud to be contributing to practical work supporting renewable energy in the North East of Scotland.”

Following the approval of the business case by the Scottish Government Health Directorate NHS Grampian is now on track to install the Energy Centre in the next eighteen months.

For more information call 01224 5 58819 or email grampian@nhs.net

local Wood Fuel Heat and power projects

BANFF ACADEmY (ABERDEENSHIRE CouNCIl)

Following on from the success of the wood chip boiler at Aboyne Academy, Aberdeenshire Council installed a wood pellet boiler at Banff Academy which was commissioned in October 2009. The cost of wood fuel compared to oil provides obvious economic benefits to the Council. The close proximity of the local wood pellet manufacturing plant means that boiler installation also acts as a demonstrator for others who may be interested in adopting the technology.

The installation comprises an 840kW Austrian Binder boiler combined with a 20,000 litre buffer tank and is designed to supply 65% of the heat demand for the school and swimming pool (1.4MWh pa) saving over 400 tonnesofCO2 annually compared to oil.

The Council has a number of other projects in the pipeline, including wood fuel boilers for Peterhead Academy and Drumblade Primary school, with further schemes awaiting capital plan approval.

For more information contact Roddy Matheson, Aberdeenshire Council on 01224 664922 or email roddy.matheson@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

ABoYNE ACADEmY (ABERDEENSHIRE CouNCIl) In February 2007 a 600kW Kohlbach woodchip boiler was commissioned at Aboyne Academy with grant support from the Scottish Government.

The Academy serves a vital role in the local community with a roll of over 650, a 280 pupil primary school, an indoor swimming pool, a library, theatre and community centre. The site is extremely well used and some parts of the complex are open seven days a week, 350 days a year, with associated demand for space and water heating.

The woodchips for the boiler are sourced locally and delivered into a storage area which has a moving floor to self feed the boiler with a continuously variable supply of fuel according to demand. The biomass boiler is linked to a 20,000 litre buffer tank to respond to peak heat demands. The Kohlbach boiler is able to burn mixtures of wood fuel with up to 60% moisture content and the ram stoker feed system allows for wood fuel of random sizes to be used such as wood chips, sawdust and bark without risk of jamming.

The biomass boiler produces over 2,000,000 kWhrs of renewable energy each year from approximately 1,100 tonnes of locally sourced wood fuel. This replaces around200,000litresofheatingoilandreducesCO2 emissions by approximately 600 tonnes per year.

In 2009 biomass provided 94% of the total site demand for heat, reducing costs, including all maintenance and operational costs, by over £46,000 compared to oil. The local economy also benefits through the supply of woodchips and maintenance services to the Academy.

JAmES JoNES AND SoNSEstablished in 1905, Scotland’s largest independent sawmiller, James Jones and Sons, has become a sector leader in addressing key environmental issues.

Being one of the leading suppliers of British timber in the UK, the company recently commissioned a biomass boiler system to provide kiln heat at its Burnroot Sawmill in Aboyne.

Providing heat for the kiln-drying process, the project displaced 940,000 litres of gas oil fuel per year with sawmill co-products and is a strategic move into the biomass energy market. The outcomes from this project are planned to form the basis for a rolling programme of fossil fuel displacement from other sites within the group.

Fuelled by sawmill co-products, it’s estimated that the boiler will reduce carbon emissions by 2,800 tonnes per annum through the substitution of a staggering one million litres of fossil fuel.

For more information contact Stephen Craig on 01324 562241 or email s.craig@jamesjones.co.uk

Industrial and Commercial projects

mACpHIE oF GlENBERvIEMacphie of Glenbervie, one of the UK’s leading food ingredients manufacturers, has always been committed to the environment, so when the opportunity arose to install a wood fuel boiler with support from the Scottish Government’s Biomass Support Scheme they were keen to progress. The project would not only reduce emissions but also help future proof the company against rises in fossil fuel energy costs.

The 1.2MW Cochrane boiler was officially commissioned in September 2008 by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney–seeingMacphierecognisedasthefirstmanufacturer to produce food ingredients using green energy created from locally sourced wood chips.

Annually the boiler will use around 2,500 tonnes of wood chips to generate up to 1,950kg of steam per hour, which is fed directly into its factory to produce sweet and savoury sauces, desserts and fruit coulis. Theboilerhasreducedthecompany’sCO2 emissions by a staggering 2,100 tonnes each year.

Macphie’s quality and environmental manager, Phil Annandale, said: “We have a long-standing commitment to protecting the environment and robust environmental management standards and policies, which are enshrined in our business practices.

“Like all manufacturers we’re facing mounting pressure to find ways of reducing our overheads. The rising cost of oil and electricity is making it difficult to remain competitive. Investment in renewable energy makes economic and environmental sense for our long term sustainability.”For more information contact Philip Annandale on 01569 740641 or email phil@macphie.com

ABERDEEN AIRpoRTAberdeen Airport is investigating the potential for using wood fuel to heat its buildings. Early stages have included a study visit to Stansted in England where wood boilers have been installed and are producing savings both in terms of cost and in terms of carbon emissions.

For further information contact 0844 481 6666 or visit www.aberdeenairport.com

CRICHIEBANk BuSINESS CENTREOpened in 2005, Crichiebank Business Centre was the tenth serviced office centre to be opened by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise). The Centre offers companies various sizes of office space to let, ranging from 190 to 470 square feet.

With 6,000 square feet of space, across two floors, encompassing twenty one office suites, a conference room and a meeting room, Enterprise set out to explore the most efficient way to heat the Centre, wishing to install an adequate, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution.

Following extensive research, Enterprise decided to install an innovative central heating system which uses locally produced biomass wood chips, rather than fossil fuels. Enterprise opted for this route due to the practical, economical and environmental benefits that biomass heating provides. The chips used in the boiler are produced just ten miles away by Bryan Harper Haulage.

Karen Pugh, director of property services at Enterprise said: “Enterprise invested around £1million in the development of the Crichiebank Business Centre. The installation of the biomass boiler has brought great savings in costs as well as significantly reducing the amountofCO2 that we release into the environment.

“It is gratifying to reap the rewards that the biomass boiler brings and I would definitely recommend this option for other businesses looking for an environmentally friendly and cost effective way to heat their premises.

“Partnership has been a key factor in the success of this project and Aberdeenshire Council has played an important role in the completion of the Crichiebank Business Centre.”

Enterprise is one of the largest providers of purpose built offices and meeting rooms. Working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Enterprise has centres located across the north east in Aberdeen, Inverurie, Banff,Huntly,Aboyne,Newmachar,Oldmeldrum,Portlethen, Stonehaven, Turriff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead (Burnside), Ellon and Westhill. Enterprise also has centres in Dundee and Brechin.

For more information contact Ron Reid on 01467 894000 or e-mail crichiebank@enetrust.com or for information on Enterprise Business Centres visit www.enetrust.com or call Karen Pugh on 01224 289700 or email karen.pugh@enetrust.com.

ABERDEEN HEAT AND poWER lTD

Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom, Leisure Centre and Linx Ice Rink are among some prominent seafront buildings being supplied with heat and hot water through a leading Aberdeen City Council initiative.

Domestic projects

Aberdeen Heat and Power Ltd was set up by Aberdeen City Council to develop and operate district heating and combined heat and power (CHP) schemes in the city. CHP is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat.

Through the Council’s Seaton Energy Centre, affordable heat has been generated through a CHP plant for more than 500 flats, some sheltered, in six multi-story blocks. This lifts council tenants out of fuel poverty, and provides efficient, low-cost heat to other public buildings.

The heat network has since been successfully extended to a sports changing facility and the Council’s beachfront complex comprising the ballroom, leisure centre and ice-rink, as well as Aberdeen Sports Village. Currently, a 1MW gas powered generator is installed in a new building which also accommodates the changing

facilities, with plans underway to set up a 2MW generator and convert both to biomass.

Aberdeen Heat and Power has two similar schemes in the city’s Hazlehead and Stockethill areas with plans to continue the initiative and branch into the commercial sector in future. Hazlehead Energy Centre supplies 198 domestic dwellings with heat and supplies Hazlehead Academy with both heat and electricity.

Stockethill Energy Centre supplies 266 domestic dwellings with heat and some of the electricity generated on site is used to run heat distribution pumps. The majority of electricity generated is sold to a licensed electricity supplier and income from this electricity is used to subsidise the cost of heat for the residents at Stockethill.

For more information contact Ian Booth on aberdeenheatandpower@btconnect.com

HADDo ESTATEHaddo Estate’s existing property refurbishment programme incorporates a District Heating Scheme which utilises biomass boilers and wood fuel.

Natural gas is not available in the area and this has resulted in a reliance on oil, coal and electricity, all of which have seen significant price increases in recent years. This, combined with the fact that energy from wood fuel for heating is one of the lowest cost renewable energy technologies, led to the decision to select biomass as a source of fuel. It also offers the end user affordable energy at a cost that is not affected by increases in fossil fuel prices.

The Estate has the advantage of a supply of timber suitable for wood chipping and this offers a market for the lower grade outputs from harvesting. Haddo Estate is a group member of the Scottish Woodlands Certification Scheme and has a 20 year Forest Plan with FC Scotland.

The Estate has refurbished several properties which incorporate containerised woodchip boilers - a 30kW boiler for two larger properties at Little Methlick Farm, a 50kW boiler for a farmhouse and three steading conversions at Raxton Farm, Tarves and a 30kW boiler forthreesmallpropertiesattheOldLaundry,Methlick.

The Haddo District Heating Scheme aims to increase local business opportunities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy supply security and encourage the uptake of similar systems in the area. It is estimated that the Haddo District Heating Scheme willproduce216tonnesofCO2 savings per year.

By providing timber for chipping, the estate is also improving forest management by upgrading the quality

and value of harvested timber, future productivity and asset value, habitat value and biodiversity.

The Haddo Estate scheme was supported by the Scottish Executive’s Biomass Support Scheme to establish wood fuel heating systems at the three sites within the Estate.

The Estate is in the process of tendering for two further biomass schemes which have received grant funding under SRDP. The schemes include 22 affordable houses in Methlick as well as a steading conversion complex at South Auchedly. More details will be available soon on the Estates’ website www.haddo.co.uk

For more information contact Susan Bicknell on 01651 851664 or email susan@haddo.co.uk

HIll oF BANCHoRY DISTRICT HEATING SCHEmEHOBESCO is a renewable energy services company (ESCo) that owns and operates a pioneering district heating scheme in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. The scheme currently supplies heat to forty new build Bancon Homes from a temporary gas boiler. Construction of an energy centre is now planned to convert the scheme from gas to biomass, fuelled from locally sourced wood chips.

The biomass boiler received part funding from the Scottish Government of £224,410, under the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme Round 2, which was the largest single award in Scotland. When fully developed the scheme will supply heating to 200 houses, a leisure centre and other commercial and community buildings.

For more information contact Guy Milligan on 01330 826555 or email guy.milligan@northbanchory.com or visit www.hobesco.co.uk

DAlFlING FARmOn 2 April 2008 the First Minister Alex Salmond opened a biomass heating plant installed at Dalfling Farm near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. The plant incorporates a 55kw wood chip boiler with spring agitator fuel feeder and accumulator heat storage capacity to heat four commercial and four residential units.

Dalfling farming partnership comprises a mix of

arable land, commercial and amenity forestry with

a number of residential and commercial units in a

converted traditional farm steading.

Replacing a past reliance on expensive electric

heating, all wood chip fuel for the system is

supplied locally by Treelogic Wood Energy Ltd, also

based at Dalfling. The scheme uses 50 tonnes of

wood chips each year.

Savinganimpressive60tonnesofCO2 emissions

each year, the First Minister welcomed the

introduction of more renewable, wood fuel heating

systems and stated that the Dalfling scheme “can

be very much a pilot plant” and also that “Scotland

needs more types of renewable plants.”

Dalfling Farm partner Barrie Hudson said: “The advanced technology is first class and down time has been absolutely minimal… the eight users are delighted not only with the constant supply of environmentally friendly heat from sustainable woodland sources on the farm, but also at the fact their heating costs have been reduced by 50% since the wood chip system replaced the former electric heating.”

The project was supported by the Scottish Executive Biomass Support Scheme.

For further information on the biomass installation contact Barrie Hudson OBE on 01467 651770 or email barrie@hudsonconsulting.ltd.uk

For further information on wood fuel supply contact Ben Hudson, Treelogic Wood Energy Ltd on 01467 651498 or email ben.hudson@treelogic.co.uk

TullYNESSlE AND FoRBES HAll

When Tullynessle and Forbes Public Hall in Alford was completely renovated in 2008 the management committee had three major reasons for adopting a renewable energy system for the hall. These were to reduce CO2 emissions to help combat climate change, reduce running costs in the hall and avoid warm/cold cycles which can lead to condensation and dampness.

Wall and under floor insulation was improved to ensure increased heat retention, helping to reduce heating costs and energy consumption and a wood pellet boiler was chosen as the best option for the new heating system. This serves to keep the hall at a more reasonable temperature for users and protects the fabric of the building against damp

The pellets for the boiler are delivered via a blown delivery system from a specially designed blower

lorry. The boiler and fuel store were located within the existing storage area of the hall meaning that no additional boiler house was required.

Subsequent to the installation of the wood pellet boiler two additional benefits emerged. The choice of wood fuel means use of a local and sustainable resource, helping to support the rural economy. The boiler has proved to be an educational attraction with many groups visiting the hall to see for themselves the benefits of installing wood fuel heating.

The boiler has a maximum output of 25kw and the wood fuel store has a capacity of 5 tonnes. It is estimated that the annual wood fuel use will be in the range12-15 tonnes, and the annual fuel saving has been estimated at £1000 per year.

For further information contact Mr Drennan Watson on 019755 62538 or email: rdw@onetel.com

RITCHIE HAll, STRICHENRitchie Hall is the main community building in the village of Strichen and is used to provide a function hall, indoor sports hall and changing rooms for local events.

The Strichen Gala Committee runs the Ritchie Hall and is a registered charity which has to raise funds for all improvementsandupkeepofthebuilding.Thepreviousheatingwasanelectricsystem–expensivetorunandgenerally inadequate. After research, the Committee appointed Hutcheson’s of Portsoy to install a wood pellet fuelled heating system. In additional to financial savings and greater efficiency, it is expected that the project will support the development of a local supply chain.

For further information contact Neil Hutcheson on 01261 842396 or email neil@hutchesonsofportsoy.co.uk

Community projects

WooDEND BARN When plans were being made to refurbish and extend Woodend Barn, a popular arts and music venue near Banchory, Woodend Arts Association were keen to incorporate a sustainable heating system which would also reduce energy costs as well as renovation works which would improve the thermal efficiency of the building.

A wood fuel boiler system was chosen to highlight the development’s environmental credentials and provide a showcase for others who are interested in adopting renewable energy. The project included major work to the original building and the addition of a brand new café/ bistro alongside the main venue.

A 100kW Austrian KWB boiler with two 1500 litre buffer tanks, installed by local company Phase NRG, provides heat and hot water to the main arts building, the new café and also to a neighbouring farmhouse. The installation has been designed to run on wood pellets

but can be converted to run on wood chips with just a few adjustments to the boiler controls, and the fuel store has been designed to accommodate both pellets and chips.

The biomass boiler project was installed with support from Community Energy Scotland and The Scottish Government’s Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme (“CARES”), Aberdeenshire Council, Leys Estate and Woodend Arts.

For further information contact Mark Hope on 01330 825431 or email: mark@woodendbarn.co.uk or visit www.woodendbarn.co.uk

Award winning Arbuthnott Wood Pellets became Scotland’s first commercial producer of wood fuel pellets, trademarked ‘Stovies’. The high-quality ‘Stovies’ pellets are made from Scottish timber which offers an economical and environmentally friendly fuel solution.

Family run Arbuthnott Wood Pellets, which is based in Kincardineshire, built a wood pellet production facility capable of manufacturing 3,000 tonnes of wood pellet fuel per annum for the domestic and overseas biomass heating market.

Company owner Keith Arbuthnott won the Scottish Renewables ‘New Company of the Year’ award in 2008. The raw material for Stovies is sourced locally from the company’s own and neighbouring sustainable woodland.

For further information contact Keith Arbuthnott on 01561 320417 or email info@hotstovies.com

Puffin Energy has made steady progress in a locally receptive market that is motivated to embrace new technologies in its quest for sustainable, environmentally sound alternative fuel sources.

The biofuel company, which trades as Puffin Pellets, was launched at All Energy 2007. The company became fully operational in November 2008, having sourced strategically positioned premises in Banff, Aberdeenshire with significant room for expansion. Taking time to find the ideal location was essential and fundamental to plans for an £8million biomass heat and power plant which is now at the planning stage, plus aspirations to add a second production line to double capacity.

The pellets produced by Puffin Energy are suitable for heating homes, offices and industrial/commercial sites. In the past year Puffin has been involved in successful installations throughout Aberdeenshire, including those at Banff Academy, Meldrum House Hotel, Greenkeepers Sheds and Scotframe.

“We are hopeful that several more projects of this scale will come into existence in the next few years”, said sales manager Julie Harper. “There is still a long way to go in educating people as to the benefits of converting to wood pellets, but the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive in 2011 will make wood pellets not only a viable option, but also an extremely profitable one.”For further information contact Puffin Pellets on 01261 842822 or email info@puffinpellets.com or visit www.puffinpellets.com

local Suppliers

puFFIN pEllETS ARBuTHNoTT WooD pEllETS lTD

MACPHIE OF GLENBERVIE

ABOYNE ACADEMY

RITCHIE HALL

DALFLING FARM

HADDO ESTATE

ARBUTHNOTT

PUFFIN PELLETS

BURNROOTSAWMILL

TULLYNESSLE & FORBES HALL

WOODENDBARNHILL OF

BANCHORY

BANFFACADEMY

CRICHIEBANK BUSINESS CENTRE

STOCKETHILL ENERGY CENTRE

DUTHIE PARK

MARISCHAL COLLEGEFORESTERHILL HOSPITAL

AHP HAZLEHEAD

ABERDEEN AIRPORT

ABERDEENCITY

AREGMorag McCorkindaleChief Operating OfficerT: +44(0)1224 814620F: +44(0)1224 814590E: mmccorkindale@aberdeenrenewables.comwww.aberdeenrenewables.com

Aberdeen City CouncilPeter LawrenceStrategist - Waste ManagementT: +44(0)1224 814629E: plawrence@aberdeencity.gov.ukwww.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeenshire Council Roddy MathesonIndustry Sector ManagerT: +44(0)1224 664922F: +44(0)1224 664713E: roddy.matheson@ aberdeenshire.gov.ukwww.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

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