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Markey Group unveils £1.1m biomass facility

Gloucester-based Markey Group demonstrated its red hot green credentials last week by holding an environmental awareness event to mark the official launch of its innovative, new £1.1 million biomass facility. The environmentally-friendly state-of-the art burner runs on wood waste generated by Premiere Kitchens - a subsidiary of Markey Group.

On average, Premiere Kitchens creates approximately 2,350 tonnes of unavoidable wood waste each year in the form of extracted chipboard dust and residual off-cuts. Previously, the majority of this would have gone to landfill, but thanks to the introduction of the new boiler, it's now being used to generate all the heating and hot water required for Markey's 8.5 acre site at Hardwicke.

Markey Group director Paul Markey said during the opening: "We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and we're always striving to think and work greener.

"Our new biomass facility has a key role to play in reducing our carbon footprint and it's exciting to think that we're helping boost Gloucestershire's green credentials by generating our own eco-friendly energy."

The biomass facility was officially opened by Furniture Industry Research Association Deputy Technical Manager, Dr Asli Tamer Vestlund. FIRA is heavily involved in a campaign to reduce the amount of virgin timber burnt to create biomass and encourage the burning of waste wood to create energy.
Commenting, Dr Tamer Vestlund said: "It was an honour to be involved in the opening of Markey's Group biomass facility and they should be commended for their efforts to reduce their environmental impact."

Commissioned by UK-based Indusvent, the new system, which features a 2.1 megawatt hot water boiler manufactured by Danish-based Justsen Energiteknik, has been designed to integrate seamlessly with Markey's existing extraction and waste handling equipment.

Burning is automatically controlled to maximise efficiency and results are monitored both locally on site and at the manufacturer's premises in Denmark.

Since installing the biomass facility, Markey Group has been able to remove its mains gas supply. As a result, the company anticipates reducing its carbon emissions by more than 1,020 tonnes per year - the equivalent annual gas usage of 638 average size homes.

But it's not just the biomass facility that's helped Markey Group to establish its green reputation.

In the last five years, the company has recycled more than 200 tonnes of cardboard and paper - the equivalent of 132,000 pizza boxes and almost 50 tonnes of plastic - the equivalent of 168,500 footballs.

"As a business we're committed to sustainable solutions and we hope others can benefit from our expertise," says Paul. "Who knows, in future we may even be able to generate enough green energy to power our surrounding community."

T: 01452 886100
F: 01452 886101
E: [email protected]
W: www.premierekitchens.co.uk

27th April 2012