Wednesday, September 2, 2009

More 'green' biomass boilers could be on the way

Bradford Council hopes to build a new storage unit in the city’s Peel Park to house the wood chippings it needs to fuel two biomass boilers.

The boilers were installed at City Hall and Ilkley Town Hall last year as part of the Council’s pledge to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2010/11.

Many of the wood chippings used to power the boilers come from timber taken from the authority’s estates and woodlands.

In January last year the Telegraph & Argus reported that the district’s nine civic Christmas trees were turned into chippings to fuel the wood-burning boilers. In addition, trees cut down as part of a restoration of Roberts Park in Saltaire have been turned into woodchips to be used in the boilers.

Now the Council wants to increase its storage facilities to help it save nearly £60,000 a year through the new technology.

The authority is also considering installing similar biomass boilers at other Council buildings in a drive to cut its emissions.

A Council spokesman said: “There is a planning application to increase the size of a shed at Peel Park which stores wood chippings. The wood chippings are used in biomass boilers at Bradford City Hall and Ilkley Town Hall.

“The boilers are fuelled by the woodchips which are collected from Leisure Services. The boiler at City Hall could provide up to £50,000 per year savings and up to £7,000 per year at Ilkley Town Hall.

“The additional storage for wood chippings at Peel Park would give us the opportunity to try the biomass technology at additional locations and other Council buildings.”

The Council also wants to deliver 20 per cent of the power it uses through renewable sources by 2020. Solar power technology is already in place at Bradford Central Library.

The target date for the application to be determined is Tuesday, September 15.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/4574812.Council_s_new_bid_to_chop_fuel_bills/

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