4.04.2000 ET

(CSRwire) Shell has launched a new, easy to install, environmentally friendly, biomass heating plant concept in Denmark. The fully automated biomass unit has just been unveiled at the Herning Ikast (HI) Industrial Park in Denmark and will supply heat to local industrial customers. The concept has been developed with the assistance of the Herning Municipality.

The advantage for customers is a clean, cost effective, reliable heat supply on demand, as their operations require. The modular units can supply 100 – 300 kW and include fuel storage and all necessary connection points, allowing rapid installation of additional units as needed.

Frank van Oorsouw, Chief Executive of Biomass and Wind in Shell Renewables, said: “This is a brand new concept, with real benefits for our customers. We see great potential for the product in other markets and we regard the Danish pilot project as a great opportunity to develop the product for customers in many locations. Its versatility comes from the fact it is easy to install, fully automated and provides cost effective, renewable heating.”

The units are most suitable for small industrial consumers, offices and schools, replacing existing fossil-fuel fired heating systems and will be targeted at Northern European markets initially.

The heating unit is fuelled by 8 or 10 mm wood pellets manufactured from sawdust to recognised industry standards and from wood grown in sustainably harvested forests. Using a guaranteed quality fuel ensures that the unit can operate fully unattended.

Shell will be responsible for installing, maintaining and helping to arrange the finance to bring a network of these plants to the market as customer demand grows.

Customers will pay on a monthly ‘fee for the service’ basis as they do for conventional, grid supplied energy.

As the wood used comes from sustainable forests the heat produced by the units will be ‘carbon neutra’ thereby contributing to reducing harmful emissions. Many countries are beginning to introduce carbon taxes and other fiscal incentives, such that clean fuels like biomass can compete with more traditional fuels.