A convincing talk by West Norfolk landowner Edward Brun of Oykel Farms Limited, Fring demonstrated considerable benefits by converting from oil-fired to wood-fired central heating.

Mr Brun’s original plan for a district scheme to provide heat and hot water for nearly 25 homes in Fring did not materialise but he pursued the idea for his own substantial house, offices and outbuildings.

“Our house is warm for the first time,” said Mr Brun. “Added to which, we will reduce our fuel costs by around 40% at current prices and our annual carbon emissions by 67 tonnes.”

Boiler specialists Energy Innovations installed a 120Kw Gilles boiler for Mr Brun which is fed with woodchip made using low grade timber from his own woodland. The final cost was £86,000 for which he secured a DECC Bio-Energy Capital Grant of £28,000 against the original estimate of £78,000.

“Capital grants have been available but the situation is changing all the time,” said Mr Brun. “At the moment, they range from 30-40% of the estimated capital cost but it is likely that support will soon change to the form of Renewable Heat Incentives where biomass boiler output will be subsidised at an amount per kilowatt hour produced.”

Co-operative Anglia Woodfuels, of which he is a director, promotes the use of woodfuel to all within the supply chain from woodland owner and boiler installer to specifiers for public buildings and private end users.

With kerosene costs now standing at around 40p/litre and continuing to rise the investment, albeit long term, makes sense for many. None more so than those in agriculture and horticulture according to Alex Morton, commercial projects manager at Anglia Farmers who manages Anglia Woodfuels.

“Nearly every commercial grower is affected by rising fuel costs whether for drying grain, heating poultry houses, greenhouses or mushroom tunnels. With the latest hike in fuel tax and impending reversion to the higher VAT rate, the situation is set to get worse.”

Anglia Woodfuels is now a well-established co-operative offering general woodfuel advice including grant information. Its new lorry-mounted Heizohack chipper, which can chip 30 tonnes of wood an hour, isavailableforhireto members withafullytrainedandhighlycompetentforestrycontractor.

For more information visit www.angliawoodfuels.co.uk or call 01603 881881