A luxury boutique bed and breakfast in the seaside village of Llangennith is the first tourism business in the Gower to receive a grant for wood-fuelled energy from Forestry Commission Wales. Thanks to the financial support from the Wood Energy Business Scheme (WEBS), a wood pellet boiler has been installed at Blas Gŵyr.
The 32kw Okofen boiler provides space heating and hot water to the bed and breakfast, which consists of four luxury suites and a coffee shop in a renovated courtyard building at Plenty Farm, Llangennith.
The boiler is fuelled by wood pellets, an efficient and convenient form of woodfuel made from compressed sawdust. In order to operate the high efficiency boiler, a large hot water storage tank has been included in the system that can also be heated by solar energy in future.
Blas Gŵyr owner Dafydd Llyr James said, “With costs for alternative technology in respect of energy generation still relatively high, the WEBS grant enabled us to consider biomass as a real alternative to traditional forms of energy generation such as gas, oil and electricity.
“Although costs in the short term don’t appear much different to other forms of energy generation, we’re in this for the long haul and, as prices for gas and oil rise, we are likely to see long term benefits in the future.”
WEBS is a £20 million project part-funded with £7.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government. Run by Forestry Commission Wales, 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.
As well as grant support towards installing the new system, Mr James received advice from the WEBS team on the technical aspects of the project and how to submit his application.
Mr James said, “The WEBS team was always on hand to guide us through the application process, sharing our frustrations in funding delays, and providing fantastic support in relation to the layers of information required to make a successful application.”
WEBS Manager, Mike Pitcher, said, “Modern woodfuel heating is clean and convenient. It is also a sustainable form of renewable energy because using wood in place of fossil fuels helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“By creating demand for wood locally, Forestry Commission Wales can encourage more woodland owners to bring their woodlands into management.
“Better managed woodlands offer higher financial returns to their owners as well as improving habitats for wildlife and offering opportunities for recreation.”
In keeping with his commitment to using a green energy alternative, Mr James was keen to source fuel locally and the wood pellets for the boiler at Blas Gŵyr are supplied by Pembrokeshire Bio Energy.
Mr James said, “We are happy with the technology and our ability to source fuel locally. It has also been a talking point for our guests who have shown much interest in the technology.
“Above all, we are extremely happy that the WEBS grant has enabled us to put into practice our commitment to create a business with good green principles at its core.”
For more information on the WEBS grant scheme, see www.forestry.gov.uk/woodenergywales or contact Michelle Brunt on 0300 068 0088, [email protected]
