Western Bioenergy Power Station in Port Talbot is seeking alternative biomass supplies such as arboricultural arisings and hedgerow chips

Western Bioenergy Fuels (WBEF) is a biomass power station based in Port Talbot, Wales. The WBEF plant requires 155,000 tonnes of biomass fuel per year. In the year 2017/18 fuel sources included the following:

The 14 Megawatt Western Bioenergy (WBEF)
biomass plant

Virgin wood
Miscellaneous woodchips
Waste wood
Brash bales

The market for biomass fuels is very competitive and WBEF is interested in alternative forms of fuels such as:

Arboricultural arisings from
- Land clearance projects
- Routine tree work on highways and railway verges
- Domestic and commercial work carried out by local tree surgeons
Hedgerow maintenance
- Particularly very mature hedges that are 5-8 years past the time they would be normally flailed or laid (large stems will be 15-20cm in diameter)
Conservation arisings such as
- Gorse and scrub
- Baled bracken
Energy crops such as
- Short rotation coppice (SRC)
- Miscanthus
- Short Rotation Forestry (SRF)

WBEF are interested in all credible approaches. In the first instance we are trying to gauge interest so if you are involved in handling biomass in South Wales or the West of England and require a simple disposal route with a potential income stream then please contact Kevin Lindegaard – kevin@crops4energy.co.uk or 0117 9089057.

About Kevin Lindegaard

Kevin Lindegaard has 21 years experience working in the field of energy crops and renewable energy. His knowledge is very widespread covering policy, biomass production, processing, logistics and end use. He has intimate knowledge of the energy crops sector at the micro scale as well as the bigger picture. His work is well respected in the UK and abroad. Since 2015 he has been a Director of Wood Heat Association (the UK trade body) providing input on energy crops and non-woody sources of biomass. He spent 7 years working at Long Ashton Research Station as the plant breeder in charge of the European Willow Breeding Programme. He was responsible for breeding high yielding and disease resistant willow varieties including: Beagle, Quest, Resolution, Discovery, Terra Nova, Nimrod and Endeavour. Other posts include spells with the Swedish company Lantmannen Agroenergi and its UK offshoot Renewable Fuels, the Renewable Energy Development Officer at Dorset County Council and the Centre of Sustainable Energy in Bristol. He set up Crops for Energy in 2004.

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Case Studies

Beuchte Energy Village
A district heating system was established in the small village of Beuchte in 2008. The heat is produced in two 250 kW furnaces using woodchips which are produced from local SRP poplar by a local farmer. The first SRPs were established in 2009. Today more than 30 hectares of SRP are grown within a …
Umberleigh Barton Farm
Umberleigh Barton Farm is a working mixed farm situated in North Devon. The owners of the farm business have installed a biomass boiler to supply space and water heating to the various buildings on site. As a result the farm is no longer dependent on the fluctuating costs of heating oil. The Umberleigh Barton Farm …
Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow self supply at Gurteen College, Co. Tipperary
This case study provides details of how to properly grow and use short rotation coppice (SRC) woodchip in a medium scale district heating scheme. Gurteen Agricultural College grows 30 hectares of SRC and dries the woodchip produced before it is used to fuel 2 x 300 kilowatt biomass boilers. This …
Tredethick Farm Cottages
Tredethick Farm Cottages located in Lostwithiel, Cornwall is using miscanthus grass as a fuel to provide district heating to 8 holiday lets, a farmhouse and a swimming pool. Crops for Energy was commissioned by the farm owner/proprietor Tim Reed to assist in the initial feasibility study and subsequent management of …
Folly Farm
Folly Farm is a learning centre based near Chew Valley Lake which is owned and managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. The farmhouse and outbuildings date from the late 17th to early 20th century and underwent a complete redevelopment between 2006 and 2008. The chosen biomass system was a 150 …

Testimonials

Many thanks for the excellent course on willow. We gained a lot of knowledge from it and were very impressed with the effort you put into the preparation of the materials and the way that you presented the course

John Finnan Researcher, Teagasc Crops Research Centre.

Thank you very much for this very comprehensive piece of work. The paper is clear and the supporting document is very detailed and relevant

Jean-Marc Jossart Secretary General of the European Biomass Association

I had actually been looking into this for several years – 3 or 4 years but the more research I did the more confused, I became so seven months ago I brought in Kevin Lindegaard of Crops for Energy to help me make the decision which made it all very clear because we looked at the pros and cons of every option and eventually we came up with the one which sounded the best.

Tim Reed Tredethick Farm Cottages

Thank you both for a pleasant and informative day, which was well organised and professionally presented. Good to see it done so well, great location too.

Aaron Custance Farmer

Thanks for delivering an interesting course last week. I found it interesting in terms of the material provided and the method of delivery. The time flew which is a good sign! Well done

Barry Caslin Bioenergy Specialist, Teagasc Crops Research Centre

Both this and the draft report are excellent bits of work and exactly what I was hoping for. This second summary on issues with fuel is very useful and thought provoking

Gary Russ Procurement and Risk Manager, South Somerset District Council

Another feather in your cap as we were indeed told last week of our success. Sounded like very strong competition too! Thanks very much for your help on this one.

Paul Barker Energy Management Officer, Bristol City Council

I’ve finally had confirmation that my boiler has been accredited for RHI. Many thanks for your work in making this happen. If this is what you have to deal with on a daily basis then you are a very patient man. Thanks again.

Andrew Curtis, Bradleigh House

It was fascinating to hear about the journey you’ve been on with the SFR – an effort of willpower and perseverance that is a testament to the dedication Crops for Energy and FEC-Energy have shown to the industry for many years.

Neil Harrison, Director Re:Heat

Excellent – A very well written article which I am sure will generate interest.

David Collins Renewable Energy Association

Congratulations! This is a mighty piece of work – a highly professional publication and a very valuable tool for the willow biomass industry both in Ireland and further afield. Well done!

Murray Carter

Congratulations Kevin! This is a great bit of work – most useful for us and the rest of the bioenergy working group, not to mention the industry itself. You’ve done us proud.

Tom Munro Countryside Officer, Dorset AONB

Thank you for spending time with us and being so patient. You gave us lots to think about and we have already implemented some of your ideas

Sara Cross Goldhill Organic Farm

Today I got around to reading all your reports and trying both the woodfuel production and utilisation templates. I must say that they are brilliant. The instructions are concise and logical and all the input fields worked for me and generated sensible outputs. Many thanks for your high quality work.

Simon Bates Tamar Valley AONB