Lumicity and Bernard Matthews, Britain’s number one turkey producer, have announced the UK’s largest biomass roll out project with 179 biomass boilers due to be installed across 21 of its turkey farms in Norfolk, Suffolk, & Lincolnshire
As well as reducing emissions, the project will allow Bernard Matthews to achieve fuel savings against their current costs.
Sponsors
Sponsors
The dry heat biomass systems produce a number of other benefits due to the improved circulation of heat, including reduced in-house ammonia levels, reduced ventilation requirements, and increased litter quality.
The project will create c.51 jobs in the local area, including nine full time permanent positions.
The project was conceived, designed, and managed by Lumicity, a leading specialist in developing renewable energy solutions. Lumicity identified the sites, designed the project, advised Bernard Matthews through the process of tendering and negotiating, and introduced financing. Lumicity will continue to manage the project for the next 20 years.
Lumicity secured funding for the project from the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) via its Energy Saving Investments (ESI) fund. GIB is the cornerstone investor in the Equitix managed ESI fund, which is investing £12m in the project. This mobilises an additional £12.5m of additional private sector capital, from the Equitix Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF).
David Joll, executive chairman, Bernard Matthews, said: “Sustainability is central to our long term business strategy. We’re already generating a large proportion of our energy needs from other renewable sources including solar and wind and with the addition of biomass boilers on our farms, we’re well placed to be generating 100 per cent of our energy sustainably by 2016.”
Tristan Fischer, CEO of Lumicity, said: “Having grown up in a farming family, I derive no greater satisfaction than from helping other farmers navigate the renewable energy landscape and secure the best possible deal.
“Lumicity is delighted to have brought together Bernard Matthews with the latest, proven biomass technology providers and Equitix energy efficiency finance. We are very proud to have played a leading role in the development of one of the largest installations of distributed heating in the UK. We look forward to working with the various parties as we continue to manage the project.”
Vince Cable, business secretary, said: “Wey set up the UK Green Investment Bank to kick start investment in renewable energy technology like this. Bernard Matthews has seen that energy efficiency makes good business sense and I am confident that more companies will follow.
“Today’s investment will have a significant green impact by reducing carbon emissions and benefits local economies by creating green jobs across three counties.”
Source: Lumicity