College opts for wood chip heating

A wood chip heating system is being installed at a new boarding house block at Ampleforth College, Ampleforth Abbey, North Yorkshire.

The project is a partnership between the college, Tilhill, Manco Energy Ltd and Renewable Energy Growers Ltd.

Ampleforth Abbey's community of Benedictine monks believe in self-sufficiency and opted to use wood from thinning and maintenance operations on their estate, supplemented by wood from local suppliers, for the heating requirements.

Renewable Energy Growers will supply around 200 tonnes of short rotation coppice and 250 to 300 tonnes of round wood timber.

Manco Energy secured the short rotation coppice option and has the necessary machinery to process both types of wood to woodchip for burning in the wood fire heating system.