A company which supplies equipment and clothing to farmers and agricultural businesses has turned to wood to heat its premises in Pembrokeshire.
Camrose Country Hardware has installed a biomass boiler system to provide space heating for its base in Camrose, Haverfordwest, after receiving a grant from the Wood Energy Business Scheme (WEBS2), a £20 million EU-backed project run by Forestry Commission Wales.
Camrose supplies anything from animal health products and a variety of agricultural equipment such as livestock tags, to gate furniture and pressure washers.
The wood pellets for the new boiler will be supplied by another Pembrokeshire-based company, PBE Bioenergy.
WEBS2 is supported with £7.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. It offers capital investment to small and medium enterprises for woodfuel heating systems and processing equipment to develop the sustainable and renewable wood heat market across Wales.
Camrose Business Manager Alwyn Roach said the company had considered other alternatives but decided on the biomass boiler as a long term, sustainable option.
He said, “I would encourage potential applicants to contact the WEBS team early to discuss their planned project in order to consider the options available under the scheme.
“They can offer guidance and save a lot of time in the research and procurement process. I found all team members to be well informed and very supportive regarding our project.”
Mike Pitcher, WEBS2 Programme Manager, said modern wood fuel heating was a “clean, convenient and sustainable form of renewable energy”.
He added, “By supporting businesses to switch to wood in place of fossil fuels, WEBS2 is helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Wales.
“Embracing wood as an environmentally-friendly fuel can also give woodland owners the incentive to bring more of their land into sustainable management.”
For more information on the WEBS2 grant scheme, see www.forestry.gov.uk/woodenergywales or contact Michelle Brunt on 0300 068 0088, [email protected]
For more information on Camrose Country Hardware, contact Alwyn Roach on 01473 710281, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.camrosecountryhardware.co.uk
