Bowen Group involved in energy move

Construction company, Bowen Group, has teamed up with another company to drive forward Ireland’s requirements to replace fossil fuels with clean and sustainable sources of energy.

Joe O’Carroll, MD of newly formed Imperative Energy, said the aim was to install up to 135mw of biomass fuelled heat from local forestry sources, which will displace the equivalent of 50 million litres or about 25m of imported oil, with a corresponding reduction of 200,000 tonnes in carbon emissions

“This is enough to heat on average 15,000 homes — a town the size of Naas or Drogheda — 700 schools, 135 hospitals, or 65 pharmaceutical plants using only locally produced wood chip.”

Imperative Energy is a joint venture between Ireland’s largest private forestry management company, Green Belt Ltd from Cavan, and Cork-based Bowen Group, one of Ireland’s largest construction organisations.

The new company can provide a complete solution for the design, installation, operation including fuel supply and ash removal, and 24/7 maintenance of eco-friendly energy systems.

“We are offering cleaner, cheaper energy with immediate cost savings of at least 10% over oil and gas, and the long term benefits of a secure and stable supply from local, sustainable sources,” added Mr O’Carroll.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, said the business model being pursued by Imperative not only adds greater value to Irish forestry produce but it also contributes to the Government’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy technologies.

Imperative is also pioneering the delivery of wood chip energy supply contracts whereby all equipment is funded by the company so there is no up front capital cost for the customer, who will only pay for the energy they use and it’s guaranteed to be cheaper than fossil fuel.

The company has already secured two such contracts in Ireland – at the Abbey Manor Hotel in Leitrim, and at the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal.