427 words. For Business.

A WHITEHAVEN firm that recycles garden waste and plasterboard is following the lead of Stobart Group – by branching out into biomass.

Stobart sold a majority stake in its iconic haulage business, Eddie Stobart, in 2014, in part to raise cash to invest in supplying biomass fuel, which it sees as a huge growth area.

Now Tim West, of West Coast Composting, is doing the same, albeit on a much smaller scale.

The firm in Wilson Pit Road has been helping businesses to manage their waste for eight years. Earlier this year it began recycling wood to supply as fuel for biomass boilers.

Mr West and manager Colin Heron have signed up five farms, two campsites and a pub as customers in the first two months. 

They are now celebrating their biggest contract to date – to provide the fuel for a new biomass boiler at Summergrove Halls, Hensingham.

Mr West said: “The Summergrove Halls contract was our first big target. 

“It’s only three miles away so the carbon footprint is very low. We were keen to demonstrate we had the capabilities to deliver and we knew we could be competitive on price and provide a top service.

“It’s an almost complete fueling circle, which has advantages for customer and suppliers alike.” 

Summergrove Halls spent £300,000 on intsaling a biomass heating system at its accommodation and conference facility.

The system reduces its reliance on gas, reduces CO2 emissions and should bring savings of £700,000 over the 20-year life of the boiler.

Rob Rimmer, executive director at Summergrove Halls, said: “It’s fantastic for us that we have found a supplier here in west Cumbria able to deliver what we need, when we need it, at the right price.” 

Mr West uses his own biomass boiler to generate heat to dry woodchip, logs and kindling. The grade-A dried woodchip serves as biomass fuel.

He said: “We produce a high quality woodchip, with consistent particle size and moisture content. It’s an almost complete fueling circle, which has advantages for customer and suppliers alike.” 

The company is the only supplier in the Whitehaven area on the biomass suppliers' list for the the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme, which subsidises renewable energy installations. 

Businesses claiming the subsidy must use an approved supplier.

Mr West added: “We are still growing into this business opportunity and are working with other local suppliers to make sure we have a consistent supply of virgin wood to turn into woodchip.

"Our supply chain is strong and it’s even more rewarding when you can keep it in west Cumbria.”