Pioneers in the recycling of organic effluents and sludges using short rotation willow coppice plantations, Rural Generation, are playing host this week to a delegation of German and Austrian renewable energy experts and academics from one of the world’s leading biomass boiler manufacturers, KWB Biomass Heating Systems.
The European delegation, which also includes leading environmental journalists from Austria and Germany, has come to Northern Ireland on a special fact finding visit with a view to learning from Rural Generation’s unique holistic model.
During the visit, the delegation have met with the First Minister Rt. Hon Peter D. Robinson, MLA, and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Loughgall, Co. Armagh as well as with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle Gildernew at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
Stephan Jantscher, CEO of KWB Biomass Systems GmbH, commented: "The introduction of tighter EU Waste Management Legislation and regulation has meant that it has become increasingly important for organisations to dispose of their waste in a compliant and environmentally sustainable manner."
Stephan continued: "With this in mind, my colleagues and I are delighted to visit Northern Ireland and are particularly interested in learning about Rural Generation’s work with regards to the development of willow and its usage in waste management processes. We are also interested in learning about the direction of government policy in Northern Ireland in relation to energy and carbon issues. The visit has been very enlightening indeed."
John Gilliland, Chairman of Rural Generation, commented: "We are very pleased to welcome the team from KWB to Northern Ireland and to our company headquarters in Brook Hall, Co. Londonderry and we hope they have found their visit to be informative and enjoyable."
"Willow has a very high transpiration and growth rate and uses up large volumes of nutrients and water as it grows. This system acts as a very effective biofilter, converting useful nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, contained in the waste streams, and reducing the levels of pollutants in the environment. The willow crop is fertilised by the nutrients and is then harvested for wood fuel energy. We provide advice and assistance regarding soil and waste stream suitability and nutrient management planning together with complete willow crop establishment."
The KWB team were joined by the First and Deputy First Minister when they visited the Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute at Loughgall where they saw the work that is being undertaken by Rural Generation Limited into the use of willow as a fuel product.
During the visit Mr Robinson commented: "The work being undertaken here is vital, renewable energy not only helps mitigate against climate change but also helps to address the current disadvantages associated with being so heavily dependent on fossil fuels from overseas."
Mr McGuinness said: "The work being undertaken by AFBI and Rural Generation is groundbreaking and has the full support of the Executive. Over the course of the coming days the delegation from Austria will see some truly innovative work in the field of renewable energy."
