Wood Energy South project heating up

A $1.5m government funded project to convert commercial boilers to wood energy is gaining momentum in Southland.

The Southland pilot project was announced in May 2014 by Energy Minister Simon Bridges and in June the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) announced it would partner with Venture Southland in the three year life of the project, which aims to switch large users of fossil fuels such as coal to wood energy.

Several Southland businesses and schools have already converted to wood energy options which offer long-term cost and performance benefits over traditional boiler fuels.

The project has been called Wood Energy South and will be launched with an official event in Invercargill on October 30.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority project manager Chris McArthur said renewable wood fuel was a cost effective way of reducing particulate emissions but also a great way of reducing the nation’s carbon emissions.

“By working with Venture Southland and local businesses, we will ensure the benefits of using wood energy are realised – that is a win for both Southland and New Zealand,” he said.

Wood Energy South Project co-ordinator Cathy Jordan said increased interest in wood chip boilers was encouraging as the project aimed to increase public understanding about how renewable wood energy could contribute to carbon reduction and economic goals.

Several Southland schools already use wood energy; several are in the process of undertaking feasibility studies – while others are at the stage of tendering for wood chip boilers to be installed.

Environment Southland has installed a wood chip boiler as part of its leadership role in the community.

Wood chip boilers require less operational maintenance and are cleaner burning than coal.
Generating heat from renewable resources often has a higher capital cost, but when these projects are considered from a total lifecycle cost point of view, wood energy is often a viable option.

Miss Jordan said Wood Energy South was progressing well with forestry companies, heat plant suppliers, fuel suppliers and heat plant users enthusiastic about the initiative to address supply and demand issues and look to overcome any other potential barriers.

A project steering committee has been established with representatives from the local community, the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand, the forestry sector, local business, and EECA.

Getting all the stakeholders together had been an important initial goal and an independent technical advisory service had been launched for anyone considering conversion, she said.

A project website was also being established that will provide information on the project, links to consultants that can help businesses investigate using wood fuels, as well as a wealth of information on what to consider when using wood fuels, she said.

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