Sheffield Hallam University has supplied the green knowhow to help a local company embrace new technology and move into new energy-saving markets.
Hallam Energy, which works with businesses and organisations to transfer energy engineering expertise, has worked with Rotherham-based Sizer Ltd to diversify its current pelletizing technology and equipment into the new biomass and wood pelleting sectors.
Sizer can now develop products and technology which can help meet recycling targets and reduce power consumption.
Wood pellets are a recently-introduced biomass fuel that offer combustion efficiencies of more than 90 per cent and produce emissions that are very low in comparison to other forms of combustion heating, making this one of the less-polluting heating options available.
Hallam Energy, part of Sheffield Hallam’s Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI), conducted a study of raw material pre-conditioning for reducing the production cost and improving the quality of wood pellets for use in combustion.
It means the company, formerly Newburgh Pelleting, in Bessemer Way, Rotherham, can enter the expanding biomass and recycling industries and help reduce power consumption.
The company used an Innovation Voucher and support from Sheffield Hallam’s Innovation Futures team to develop a new Sizer S compact pellet press to help diversify the business.
Dr Abhishek Asthana from Hallam Energy, said: “Hallam Energy is focused on applying the skills and expertise<http://research.shu.ac.uk/hallam-energy/work-together.html> developed through our research to real world problems, which is why we were able to help Sizer.”
“Through this work, Hallam Energy has been able to increase energy efficiency and to adopt a sustainable approach to its future business development.”
Roger Pearson, from Sizer, said: “Hallam Energy’s engineering and biomass expertise helped us greatly in understanding the mechanics behind biomass pelleting as we expand our business into both domestic and key international markets.”
Students from Sheffield Hallam University have also been helping Sizer to build international links in the Far East.
The firm has set the students the task of sourcing information on agents within Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, as part of its ambitious global expansion plans supplying pelleting equipment and spare parts.
