Coillte, Irelands’ leading natural resources company, held a Biomass Information and Demonstration day at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. The event was attended by business and industry executives from across the Northwest region who heard how;
- Biomass boilers can reduce heating costs for businesses by up to 50%.
- Combined Heat and Power technologies can generate electricity for industry.
- Biomass industry stimulates Northwest job creation – Biomass fuel is sourced from private and Coillte owned forests in the Northwest, where it is then processed locally for supply to business in the North West region.
- In 2013 Coillte established a large biomass supply depot at Drumkeen Quarry, near Letterkenny, to support a growing customer base in the North West.
Opening the event Michael Tunney, CEO at Donegal County Enterprise Board, welcomed the enormous potential of Biomass to stimulate employment in the Northwest. “Biomass is a natural wood product that is produced and processed locally to power business and industry across Northwest Ireland. Donegal County Enterprise is delighted to see the development of this new fuel supply industry and its potential for job creation”.
Also speaking at the event was Des O’Toole, Biomass Business Development Manager for Coillte, explains that, ‘’In today’s economic climate, Irish businesses cannot afford to ignore the high cost of energy. For many businesses, biomass offers substantial annual energy savings and provides a local economic stimulus through employment and the ancillary logistics services required.”
Attendees at the event were also given a tour of the Radisson Blu hotel’s operational Biomass boiler. Paul Byrne, Director of the Radisson Blu hotel, speaking in advance of today’s event said, ’Our hotel’s energy costs have been dramatically reduced since we switched to biomass renewable energy, which is 50% cheaper than oil. We are delighted with Coillte, as we find them to be an extremely reliable and competitive supplier.”
The Biomass information and demonstration day ended with a tour of Coillte’s nearby Biomass fuel supply depot in Drumkeen Quarry.
Speaking after the Event, Des O’Toole, Business Development Manager of Biomass said “Coillte was delighted to have hosted this Industry event in the North West where it is evident that there is significant interest in biomass energy as a renewable heat solution for large energy users. Encouraging these industries to make the capital investment required will secure local jobs into the future and support the continued growth of forestry sector in the region’’