Cutting emissions and costs for business

Welsh biomass sector is set to make a vital contribution to reducing emissions, costs - and creating jobs.

The UK may be unlikely to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010, but the Welsh biomass sector is set to make a vital contribution to reducing emissions, costs - and creating jobs.

Comparing the cost of heat - Rising fuel prices mean that wood energy is already cheaper than oil - 3.5 pence per kilowatt hour compared to 4 pence per kwh for oil.

And with more fossil fuel price hikes forecast, many Welsh businesses are looking at biomass as a real alternative.

So far a total of 31 major systems are already on line throughout Wales and another 26 are in the pipeline for this year alone.

"In the past two years the price of heating for business has rocketed, in many cases fuel bills have doubled, putting extra pressure on already tight budgets," said Ian Draisey of Dulas , Wales' leading renewable energy company.

Inquiries from a wide range of leisure, food production and hospitality providers have been increasing as higher energy costs bite even deeper.

"Wood energy makes sense financially - and looks certain to become even more attractive on cost - as well as being good for the environment and meeting Government emissions targets," said Ian.

More than 45 per cent of all carbon emissions come from heating and lighting buildings.

By switching to carbon neutral energy from renewable forestry resources Welsh business can cut that dramatically.

"The overall strategy is being driven by the Welsh Assembly Government and local authorities, but each individual system, developed at a local level which can have a real impact on the overall position as well as providing significant local benefits".

""The infrastructure is in place now, we have the skills and the experience in Wales to make wood fuel a reality, and we are rapidly becoming key players in leading the way for the rest of the UK.

"The added bonus is that for every system we install, there are more jobs created and safeguarded in Wales - wood energy provides work for local people to provide local sustainable energy for local business," he said.

Dulas .

Has just made it easier for business users to switch to wood energy.

The Machynlleth based company has set up its own energy supply subsidiary - which not only installs wood-fuelled boilers and systems, but takes care of all the day-to-day running as well.

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