Dartmoor Wood Fuel Co-operative - Regensw

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Dartmoor Wood Fuel Co-operative Andy Bradford Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK

Brimpts Farm Our roots

• 700 acres (280 Hectares) • Owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1337 • Third generation farming family • Produces prime beef from its South Devon herd • Awards for conservation, farm management and diversification.

Seeing the potential of biomass Meeting the needs of the farm

• Inspired by a 2005 study tour to the Simmental, Switzerland • 125kW boiler installed in 2007 – Grant assisted plus a loan from the Carbon Trust

• Initially fuelled using timber from farm woodland – Chipped by local woodfuel supplier

• Savings – 40% costs against fossil fuel – 70 tonnes of carbon

Dartmoor Wood Fuel Co-operative Starting out with friends and neighbours

• Co-op set up as an IPS in 2009 • Five members – All boiler owners with no previous experience of biomass

• Goals – Secure supply and stable prices – Environmentally sourced

• Achieved by forward buying local timber • Acquired timber processing and handling equipment

Becoming a business The fuel supply contract

• Members make upfront payment – Equivalent to 12 months supply of round wood – e.g. 100 cubic metres cost around £2,000 (€2400)

• Forward buying – Reduces financial burden on the co-op – Allows time for seasoning

• Chip is sold by the cubic metre at slightly below market value • Any profit is distributed or redirected back into the co-op

Major expenditure Getting the right equipment

• Some equipment purchased with grant assistance (BEIS) • Co-op owns the machinery and hires affordable labour • Chipping may be carried out by local farmers, four of whom have been trained • Any savings are put back into the co-op

Acting as a hub Developing and expanding

• ‘Seedling to fire box’ approach: – Woodland management – Harvesting to processing – Storage through to delivery

• Co-op acts as a “hub” – Joining elements of the supply chain that might otherwise remain isolated

• Memberships and affiliations create opportunities

Our supply chain WOODLAND SERVICES

Woodland management and consultancy

Harvesting contractors

WIDER AIMS

WOODLAND RESOURCES Duchy of Cornwall Dartmoor National Park South West Water

DARTMOOR WOODFUEL COOPERATIVE Woodfuel processing and supply

Forestry Commission Privately owned

BOILER OWNERS

: Knowledge transfer : Flow of services Engineers

Farmers

OTHER LOCAL SERVICES

Community involvement

Raise profile of biomass heating

Increase number of installations

More details at www.dartmoorwoodfuel.co.uk

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