South Molton business helps Cornish farmer fuel business with onsite logs

While many businesses and householders have been badly affected by the recent rise in fuel prices, South Molton renewable energy specialist Source Renewable is helping households and businesses protect themselves from any future hikes by installing state-of-the-art biomass boilers.

And Source's expertise is becoming so well respected that businesses are contacting them from across the south west to design bespoke systems for them.  Only last week, Source completed a system for Cornish farmer Adrian Coombe, who's new boiler is fuelled entirely by the wood off his farm land.

Keen to make the business – which is used for weddings, functions and corporate events – as cost-effective as possible, Adrian investigated a commercial biomass boiler and was pleased to find out that not only will it save a huge amount on his electricity bills from using his own logs, but also it has the potential generate more than £6,000 a year in payments from the government's Renewable Heat Incentive.

"When we moved into the farm it was heated solely by two wood burners and an array of inefficient electric storage heaters, so we had to spend our time in a couple of rooms to keep warm," said Adrian. "But now our whole farm is cosy, we're saving huge amounts on our fuel bills, and the system looks set to pay for itself within just a few years. It's an exceptional investment.

"Biomass is the perfect solution for us, as we have our own large supply of wood," he added, "and the RHI means that we actually get a healthy reward for 'going green."

The 60 kW Vigas biomass boiler system, designed and installed by Source Renewable, provides both heat and hot water for the business and the farm house's new central heating system.

"Although the renewable heat incentive was a major reason, it also makes practical sense for us to use our own wood resource, rather than relying on fossil fuels from energy companies, particularly as prices are continually rising."

Adrian started his search for a biomass boiler through farming co-operative Mole Valley Farmers, who put him in touch with recommended installer Source Renewable, which co-ordinated the whole installation and even gave Adrian assistance with registering for the RHI.

"Source did an exceptional job from start to finish," added Adrian.  "I couldn't fault them.  From carrying out a detailed survey of my site to their advice on what fuel I should use, they took care of every feature of my installation, tying up every loose end to the highest standards."

Thanks to the commercial renewable heat Incentive Adrian will receive 8.3p for every unit of renewable heat his biomass boiler generates for the first 1,314 hours it operates each year and 2.1p per hour for every other hour it is in operation.  This means that the system should pay for itself within just a few years, leaving Adrian with many years of additional index-linked RHI payments.

For further information contact Source Renewable on 01769 579955 or visit www.sourcerenewable.com