Open day to highlight how farmers can help cut energy costs in half
Five businesses in the county have installed wood-chip burners to generate heat, at a cost 50% cheaper than oil.
They are supplied by three wood-chipping centres, one of which is now operating full-time. The wood comes from 85 farmers with a combined 1,000 acres of forest.
The initiative is the first in which farmers have grouped their resources to enhance the value of thinnings from their forests, by handling the entire process from felling to marketing of chips.
Their customers are commercial establishments which invested around €150,000 each in installing wood-chip burners. Their savings are projected to more than cover conversion costs in less than two years.
The open day from 9am to 4.15pm will include bus tours to wood energy sites in the county.
It is hosted by Co Clare Wood Energy Project, Rural Resource Development, Teagasc and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
