A NORTHUMBERLAND hotel has ditched costly oil for the woodchip on its doorstep to provide heating and hot water.
Today sees the official opening of the sustainable power scheme at the 53-bedroom Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa.
In what is believed to be one of the largest hotel initiatives of its kind in the UK, Matfen Estates owner Sir Hugh Blackett has moved to exploit his 500 acres of woodland by installing a biomass boiler for the hotel.
All woodchip to fuel the boiler is sourced within a three-mile radius of the hall and with the hotel previously using 165,000 litres of oil a year, the long- term savings are expected to be considerable.
The woodchip is taken from the estate’s sustainable managed woods.
The timber is allowed to dry for at least one year, reducing the water content from 60% to 30%. Logs are turned into woodchips ready to be used as fuel for the Econergy boiler.
Prior to installing the boiler, these thinnings would have been considered as waste.
The boiler is in a redundant bungalow adjacent to the hotel, which has been converted into an energy centre.
As the woodchips are burned, they release the same amount of carbon dioxide absorbed during the tree’s lifetime of growth. Last year Sir Hugh installed a smaller biomass boiler at his own home and two cottages on the estate.
“My house acted as a bit of a guinea pig but it has worked well and we are very happy with it,” he said.
“We realised there were considerable environmental and financial advantages. At home we have saved the cost of over 25,000 litres of oil.
“Wood thinning is a very necessary process and it made so much sense to use the chippings.
“As we use such a huge amount of fuel for the hotel and have such a large volume of timber available from the estate, it is the perfect solution.
“At Matfen Hall we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and caring for the environment and how better to do this than to supply our own heating and hot water? To demonstrate to guests and visitors how the process works, we have installed interpretation boards, and are more than happy to give guided tours.”
The project was handled by Econergy Ltd and included the design, installation, commissioning of the new energy centre, pre-insulated heat mains and local connections into the hotel at two locations.
