Established in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone 11 years ago, Hegan Biomass is a one-stop shop for all your bio-energy requirements. The family-run business provides a complete service ranging from willow planting and harvesting, timber processing to wood chip supply and the supply and installation of high efficiency biomass boiler systems.
Willow biomass production for bio-energy products is a growing sector in Ireland and leading the way is Hegan Biomass, which prides itself on being leaders in natural solution heating systems. A relatively new crop to Ireland, willow has the potential for high biomass production in short time periods and is seen as key renewable energy source going forward.
The benefits of heating with biomass are many, particularly for large enterprises and factories which can save up to 50 per cent on their heating costs by switching from oil. Alan Hegan, who runs Hegan Biomass along with his brother George and parents Tom and Mary, explains: “For any business using medium to high amounts of energy, a biomass boiler system is well worth considering.
“While it’s expensive to install initially, huge savings will be made in the long term. Several years ago, we had our first biomass boiler supply contract at the Cookstown Leisure Centre and they have saved £70,000 per annum on their heating bill since.
“There are planting grants available for producers in the Republic, and I can see many farmers availing of them and getting into this type of farming.”
The Hegans were dairy and beef farmers and agricultural contractors before setting up their burgeoning biomass business. They grow 40 hectares of SRC (short rotation coppice) willow on their family farm which is harvested in four-year cycles via full stem system. In total, there are 5,000 hectares of willow grown in Ireland and the Hegans manage one-fifth of this for producers in Tyrone, Armagh, Down, Derry, Fermanagh and Monaghan.
Willow is air-dried by means of raised rails until moisture/content reaches the low twenties/high teens. This process usually takes between eight and 10 months. The willow is then chipped and screened before being delivered to various consumers throughout Ulster as well as in Co. Louth.
Hegan Biomass is a member of Irbea which promotes opportunities for biomass energy in the north and south and represents the interests of producers and users by lobbying Government and its agencies in respect of legislation, research and funding programmes that impact on the sector.
The family enterprise provides a contract harvesting service by means of full stem harvester as well as support services, including haulage, chipping, screening and consultation/advice on air drying of SRC willow.
The company has a direct production capacity of 20,000 dry tonnes per annum of wood chip. Its main production/operations base is in Dungannon. In addition, in 2012 it opened regional fuel depots in Randalstown, Co. Antrim and Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
A rigorous in-house quality control system is in place to ensure that all wood chip is of agreeable, consistent quality and meets either G30 or G50 specification. The primary processing involves chipping the full stem rods. After chipping, a secondary screening process is undertaken which removes any chip that does not meet specification, depending on screens involved.
A variety of fuel delivery options are available to consumers. All fuel is supplied as standard at 20 per cent moisture content. This complies with the EU W20 standard and provides maximum available energy per tonne as gross energy content in the timber (and energy output of the boiler) is not wasted driving off excess moisture.
SRC consists of densely planted, high-yielding varieties of either willow or poplar, which is commonly harvested every three years. SRC is a woody, perennial crop, the rootstock or stools of which remain in the ground after harvest with new shoots emerging the following spring. A plantation could be viable for up to 30 years before replanting becomes necessary, although this depends on the productively of the stools. Unlike forestry, the land can be put back into agricultural use immediately after harvesting and remains eligible throughout for single farm payment entitlements.
Willow is planted in the spring using planting material produced by specialist breeders and equipment specifically designed for the purpose. The willow grows rapidly in the first year, reaching up to four metres in height. During the winter after planting, the stems are cut back to ground level to encourage the growth of multiple stems, i.e. coppiced. Most operations other than planting or harvesting can be completed using conventional farm machinery.
Willow will grow on any suitable soil and will produce up to 15 tonnes dry matter. Here in Ireland, we have one of the world’s most favourable climates for tree and plant growth. When using willow chip, not only is fossil fuel replaced by Green renewable energy, but the carbon dioxide produced in the burning process has already been used up by the plant in previous growing seasons, making it carbon neutral.
Harvesting is carried out after leaf-fall in winter using the Stemster willow harvester, which is the only one currently operating in Ireland. The Stemster cuts the willow as a whole-stem and deposits it in large bundles at the field’s perimeter to allow natural air drying.
Over the summer months, the moisture content naturally reduces from 50 per cent at harvest to around 20 per cent by mid-September. If further moisture reduction is required, it’s necessary to house the stacks under a simple roof with good air flow around it.
As installers of high efficiency biomass boiler systems, Hegan Biomass is proud to be the official distributor for Heizomat in Ulster. Heizomat is a well-established German company that produces a wide range of biomass boilers and wood chipping machinery. Hegan Biomass can tailor systems to ensure your installation is a complete success.
Renewable energy solutions from willow and multi-fuel burning biomass boilers burning pellets, sawdust, shavings or woodchips offer a sustainable and great value option for heating requirements in the long term. In an age of ever-increasing fuel costs, Hegan Biomass can offer a long-term efficiency solution.
Hegan Biomass is expected to go from strength to strength in the coming years as the emphasis on renewable fuels continues to grow.
“By 2020, internationally agreed targets stipulate that renewable heat must and will account for 10 per cent of the overall heating figure across this island so, on that basis, there will be an awful lot of biomass needed,” Alan Hegan concludes.
Hegan Biomass
29A Lurgy Road,
Dungannon,
Co. Tyrone BT71 4DF
Telephone (Sales): 07706 845 097
Telephone (Fuel Supplies):
028 8774 0379
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.heganbiomass.com
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 2, March 2015
