BIOMAP BIOMASS MARKET ASSESSMENT PROJECT

Thursday Feb 16th 2006

With rising gas and oil prices wood is now the cheapest heating fuel in the UK. Its use presents a real opportunity for land owners to increase income from their land and become self reliant for their heating needs. An increasing number of estates and farms across the south east are moving towards this driven by sharply increasing heating bills and a need to make a better return on their woodland.

BioMAP is aiming to expand the uptake of Biomass heating in Hampshire and West Sussex and is holding a half day event at Cowdray Estate (West Sussex) looking at these issues.

BIOMAP BIOMASS MARKET ASSESSMENT PROJECT

Wood Heating Event
Is wood suitable for heating large dwellings?

A project to identify real opportunities for biomass heating.

The event is free and will cover;

• Details of BioMAP
• An overview of modern biomass heating systems suitable for estates and large houses
• Economics of using wood heating, from capital costs and available grants to running costs compared with conventional heating fuels.
• Production, self supply and sale of wood fuel
• A site visit to the estates newly installed biomass heating system and chipping operation

There is a huge underused wood resource in Hampshire and West Sussex which could easily be used for local wood heating.

BioMAP is a project which is funded by the South Downs Sustainability Fund and is being undertaken by Natural Light Partnership (NLP), in association with its partners, the Environment Centre (tEC) and Renewable Heat and Power (RHPL). A major aim of the project is to develop a proactive plan to increase the deployment of wood heating in Hampshire & West Sussex by March 2006.

The main objectives are to:

• Identify potential heat loads for both woodchip & pellet across Hampshire & West Sussex
• Increase knowledge about wood heating and its
  potential
• Develop financial models for wood chip and pellet
  installations
• Develop feasible wood heating projects
• Key activities include:
• Desktop study to find opportunities for wood heating in the identified market segments
• Identifying current networks to aid access to these market segments
• Distribution of information packs including case studies to a newly created contacts database
• Workshops, seminars and meetings for stakeholders and potential projects
• Free technical advice for potential projects

Project Sponsors:
Hampshire County Council, West Sussex County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Chichester District Council, Forestry Commission, GOSE, SEWF, SEEDA, Wood4Heat, Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council, New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council

About BioMAP

Date: Thursday Feb 16th 2006

Location: Cowdray Estate
The event will be held at the Cowdray park golf club which is situated on the A272, 1 mile east of Midhurst (West Sussex)

Time: 9:30am

Duration: 2 hours, coffee provided

Attendees: Landowners and owners of large houses

Cost: No cost

Interested? Contact Bruce Norgrove on 01273 440943 or
b.norgrove@naturallight.org.uk