Energy Minister John Hayes MP has welcomed a Whaplode-based initiative that will allow farmers to tap into a sustainable heat source and make their businesses more profitable.
Mr Hayes was visiting GlenFarrow UK Ltd’s manufacturing facility which is producing a range of batch-fed biomass boilers that allow farmers and growers to create hot water or hot air from a variety of fuel types, such as straw bales, waste wood or cardboard. Farmers are able to tap into the renewable heat incentive, a government measure to drive the use of alternative energy sources.
The MP referred to the process as a “virtuous circle”, allowing farmers to burn waste product to create heat that could then be used to dry stored grain, and added: “Biomass boilers are an exciting innovation, generating energy and making use of waste in a highly-efficient manner.”
Mr Hayes said it was “heart-warming” to see the redundant Greens site in use once again and welcomed the job creation opportunity it brought. He added: “I am delighted this Spalding-based firm has been able to build on successful projects and create more than 20 new jobs.”
GlenFarrow managing director Paul Kitchen said the company was producing 12 units a month and had installed over 60 boilers so far, with ten to 12 being in this area. He said: “I see that as growing by far – we have had a problem keeping up with demand – and certainly in the New Year we will be taking on more people.”