Julie Harper

Puffin Energy has made steady progress in a receptive market that is motivated to embrace new technologies in its quest for sustainable, environmentally sound alternative fuel sources.

The biofuel company, which trades as Puffin Pellets, was launched at All Energy 2007 and became fully operational in November 2008, having found strategically positioned premises in Banff, Aberdeenshire with significant room for expansion. Taking time to find the ideal location was essential, being fundamental to plans for an £8million biomass heat and power plant which are now at the planning stage, and aspirations to add a second production line to double capacity.

Puffin Pellets’ confidence comes in part from the example set by comparable companies’ success in overseas markets. Inspired by the example set by countries such as Sweden and Austria, where a significant tax on oil and gas for heating has encouraged the development of alternative fuels, and anticipating the adoption of similar taxes in this country, co-founders Thomas Tait and Bryan Harper launched wood fuel pellets in the UK.

As a novel concept in the UK, Puffin Pellets has had to develop its own knowledge base to produce pellets of the required quality, and has done so with great success. The pellets, a consistent fuel with low moisture content which can be easily handled in automated systems, are manufactured from virgin, bark free product - primarily sawdust/offcuts from saw mills, supplemented where necessary with purpose processed wood. A range of appliances are available to burn the pellets, from single stoves to large industrial heating systems, with fully automated boilers as the norm. Such boilers are similar to gas boilers, with pellets being fed in at a modulated rate from a store with a capacity of typically between three and five tonnes for domestic use.

The pellets are suitable for heating homes, offices and industrial/commercial sites, and for now, Puffin is casting a wide net to attract new business, covering the whole of the UK. In future, however, it is hoped that the market can be refined to the local area, optimising the green qualities of the product – the fewer miles it travels the lower its carbon footprint. With rural Aberdeenshire’s relatively high number of off gas pipeline properties this would seem an achievable target if the market embraces the technology.

Progress has been good, with the domestic side developing the fastest. However, successful wood burner installations such as the one at Banff Academy for Aberdeen Council are expected to encourage more schools and other public buildings to convert in future.

“Education will be pivotal to future success”, said Sales Manager Julie Harper: “There is a great deal of marketing to be done to promote the potential and even the existence of alternatives to oil or gas heating methods. We are actively promoting on a local level, and in a sense are acting as an advisory service on grants and potential savings – we need people to know that while there is an investment required to convert to this system you will not only make it back in cost savings, but you will also soon benefit from the launch of the Renewable Heating Incentive, which will be comprised of a start up grant and an annual payment. It’s a win-win situation.”

The Government’s consultation on the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive scheme was published in February, and the expectation is that the scheme will be introduced in April 2011. The payable tariff level would be set by Government - based on technology and size – for every kilowatt hour of heat produced, and it is hoped that the scheme will make a significant contribution towards the attainment of  the 2020 15% renewable energy target.

Puffin Pellets is certainly doing its bit, with plans progressing for an £8million biomass plant. Planning permission has been granted and this time next year the development will be well underway. The heat and power plant, to be built in partnership with sister company Harpers, will generate enough electricity to the national grid to power 2,500 houses and contribute to carbon-neutral renewable energy production in the area. It will be fuelled by recycled wood chips from Harpers and some of the heat and power produced will be used to help Puffin Pellets reduce power consumption.

“Our green credentials continue to get greener!” said Julie Harper. “We can help our customers to boost theirs, and save them some money too.”

www.puffinpellets.com

Katy Shields