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IFA Farm Forestry Chairman Pat Hennessy has welcomed the
announcement that biomass gasification boilers will be included
in Phase III of the Greener Homes Scheme from the 22nd July
(Click
Here).
IFA has been putting pressure on the Government over recent
months for the inclusion of biomass gasification boilers in
the Scheme.
Pat Hennessy said - “Increasing numbers of our members are
thinning their plantations and producing timber for the first
time. Many see this as an ideal fuel source to heat their
homes. Already they are stockpiling and drying timber.
“Installing a biomass gasification boiler could reduce your
annual home heating bill by as much as 60%, when you consider
that home heating oil has increased by 40% since the start
of 2008. The saving could be as much as 80% if you have are
using the timber from your own forest.”
The past decade has seen considerable advances in efficiency
and emission levels of gasifier-type firewood boilers, making
them a suitable source of sustainable heat production for
homes and small commercial installations. The boilers are
manually fed by simply laying wood into the feed chamber of
the boiler. The units can be charged with sufficient fuel
to provide heat and warm water for a large house for at least
a full day. With a suitably sized buffer tank, this can be
extended significantly to as much as once a week for hot water
or once every 2-3 days during the heating season.
“We are delighted that our campaign for the introduction
of gasification boilers has been successful and would like
to thank the TDs and particularly Tony Killeen, Minister of
State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
for supporting our campaign” - continued Pat Hennessy.
“Wood is an ideal carbon neutral renewable fuel resource
for domestic homes. It is particularly attractive to farm
families that may not be connected to gas and, therefore,
using more expensive and carbon heavy fuels such as oil” -
he concluded.
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