Biomass

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture regarding the costs, fuel usage, and efficiency of a biomass installation at a sawmill. The authority disclosed full details including installation costs, weekly fuel consumption, boiler efficiency, and the absence of additional manpower costs.

Key Facts

• The biomass boiler and associated buildings cost £366,360.
• The Heizohack Chipper machinery cost €210,000.
• The boiler utilizes between 1.5 and 2 tonnes of woodchip per week, rising to 3 tonnes during high demand.
• The boiler efficiency is greater than 90% with a fuel cost of £120 per tonne.
• No additional personnel costs are incurred as existing staff manage the automatic boiler.

Data Disclosed

• £366,360
• €210,000
• 1.5 to 2 tonnes
• 3 tonnes
• >90%
• £120/t
• <4p/kWh
• 12-20 tonnes
• 700-1000 tonnes
• 2019-12-09
• 2019-12-20
• 2009

Original Request

How much was the biomass installation How many tons per week and per weak is used What does the fuel cost and manpower cost

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 1091761 20th December 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 9th December 2019 and which states:

"How much was the biomass installation How many tons per week and per weak is used What does the fuel cost and manpower cost" These questions were further clarified in our telephone conversation on the 12th as: 1. How much did the biomass installation at the sawmill cost? 2. How much did the chipper machinery cost? And any other machinery associated which was purchased to operate the boiler? 3.What weight of chippings is used, per week (on average over a year) to fuel the boiler at the sawmill? 4.If possible, what is the efficiency of the boiler, from a cost point of view i.e. if £600 worth of fuel is put into the boiler, what is the value of the heat produced by it? 5.What is the cost of the fuel and the associated cost of the personnel, to run the boiler? 6.How many tonnes of biomass chippings are produced a week (on average over a year) and what, of this, is sold to other customers? How many customers purchase chippings?” I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. 1. The actual biomass boiler and all associated buildings, including the large storage facility to service all customers was £366,360. 2. The Heizohack Chipper purchased in 2009 to produce all woodchip biomass for all facilities across the Isle of Man cost €210,000 – no other equipment was purchased by the Department to operate the boiler. 3. Over the last 12months the DEFA installed boiler which provides heating to the entire Sawmill complex, DEFA HQ and Old Forestry Office buildings via a heat main, utilised between 1.5 and 2 tonnes of woodchip per week. This can rise to 3 tonnes per week during high demand periods.

1. The efficiency of the boiler is >90% with cost per tonne £120 so<4p/kWh. This can be compared to other fuels at www.gov.im/media/1364095/annual-domestic-heating-review-2018-v2.pdf
2. As in point 4, the boiler cost is £120/t, which equates to less than 4p/kWh. The boiler is automatic and needs refuelling every few days by existing Sawmill staff, so there are no additional personnel costs.
3. 12-20 tonnes of woodchip are delivered per week throughout the year, depending on customer demands, so 700-1000 tonnes per year, including DEFA, 4 Sheltered Housing schemes and the QE2 School.

Please quote the reference number 1091761 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely