Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies has officially opened a new low carbon office development at Mathrafal near Meifod.
The 240m² converted barn, is the base of local biomass energy business EGNISCO, and is powered by solar and hydro electricity, heated with biomass and insulated throughout.
The barn is the first stage of a planned phased development of former agricultural buildings into green offices and is relevant to Mr Davies’s parliamentary work as he has recently joined the All Party Parliamentary Group on Biomass.
After cutting a ribbon, he had the opportunity to see the working wood chip biomass boiler which heats the site and inspect EGNISCO’s wood chip store which boasts the only ambient air drying facility for wood chip in Wales.
As a longstanding opponent of wind farm and pylon development in Mid Wales, Mr Davies said that the sort of projects promoted by EGNISCO which meet heat needs from local resources represented a form of renewable energy which he could wholeheartedly support.
He said: “I am hugely supportive of EGNISCO’s biomass development. I hope it will become a template for similar schemes across the country. Not only is it an efficient, renewable energy project with no negative impacts on the landscape, it has full community backing, and has the potential to boost the local economy through development of local forestry projects. It’s a scheme that wins in every way possible.”
Stephen Drummond, a partner in EGNISCO, said: “Biomass heating represents a great opportunity for economic growth in rural Powys. Financial support by Government for biomass through the mechanism of the Renewable Heat Incentive makes wood burning boilers an extremely attractive financial option across a wide range of applications. Meeting heat needs from local resources creates jobs in rural areas and keeps more of the economic benefits within the local community.”
PICTURE: Stephen Drummond of EGNISCO explains the benefits of a biomass heating to Glyn Davies MP and guests.