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Our Woodchipping Plant |
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Chips for sale,
contact:
Clachan, Cairndow,
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HWA raised funds to research and put on an exhibition on the history of power generated within the Cairndow locality - water mills, old micro hydro including the turbine installed at Ardkinglas House in 1907, and the great Hydro Board schemes of the 1950s, (Three of these used water from within the Cairndow parish). This then led to a feasibility study to explore all sources of appropriate renewable energy, commissioned by Renewable Devices, Edinburgh.
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| Part of the display on show at the exhibition | |
Results of the study....Sun and wind proved insufficient. There were two potential micro hydro schemes, both impractical for different reasons. The remaining choice with potential was a biomass plant to heat water for Lakeland Smolts, the Norwegian owned local salmon hatchery. Lakeland saw the attraction of reducing its oil consumption and a guaranteed energy price for a 5 year period. The end result is in the shape of a three-way project. Lakeland Smolts, Mawera (the boiler manufacturers, installers and now Energy Supply Company) and HWA. Finally things could get off the ground! |
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 Discussions at the Lakeland site |
 Signing of Contract "Our Power"-Cairndow, Lakeland & Fish and Chips |
 Equipment arrives; happy men!
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The post of Manager for the chipping Plant was advertised and John Smart was appointed. With a background in forestry work, we were delighted to have him on board. Then came the arrival of the machinery, which caused a great stir with the men (boys and their toys!), and the erection of the shed for storing the wood chips. And most recently, the erection of a storage shed and installation of the boiler at Lakeland Smolts.
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On a typical Argyll day - wet dull and driech, and after an introduction by Christina Noble (Project Director), an enthusiastic Jim Mather MSP opened the facility by formally handing over the keys of the project' brand new high-powered wood chipping machinery to operator and Manager, John Smart, who gave an expert demonstration of the chipper in operation. The party then retired to Here We Are for refreshments and discussions, (out of the rain!), and Jim Mather received a presentation as a memento of this landmark day in the history of sustainable community development. |
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HWA has now set up a community interest company called Our Power, in order to progress with our biomass Woodchipping business. This business will eventually [within 5 years] enable Here We Are to become financially sustainable. Wood provided by Tilhill will be chipped and delivered by Our Power to Lakeland Smolt's biomass boiler which will be operated by Mawera, the energy supply company, [ ESCo- to be called Fish and Chips!]. A crucial element in the initiative is, of course, timber:- in Argyll trees grow fast and well. With the Forestry Commission's assistance HWA has negotiated a 5 year contract for the quantity of wood at the moisture content needed by Lakeland and at a price that makes the project viable. The timber will be sourced within a 30 mile radius. HWA now needs to look beyond its one (good sized) customer for others within the same radius. Long distance transportation of timber for chips is not sustainable. We would never have got to where we are now without the support and expertise of the Biomass Officer from ALIenergy.
| Wilson Machinery Ltd Tel: 01556 612233 info@jaspwilson.co.uk |
Renewable Devices Tel: 0131 535 3403 andrew@renewabledevices.com |
| Shufflebottom (Shed) Tel: 01269 831831 |
Colin Anderson Tel: 01738 442974 colin.g.anderson@btinternet.com |
| Marshall Farms (Trailers) Tel: 01224 722777 |
Steve Thomson Tel: 01879 220058 steve.thomson@conciseb2b.com |
| ALIenergy Tel: 01631 562125 bob@alienergy.org.uk |
| Supported By:
Communities Scotland |
