Bernard Matthews was previously using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a fuel. The biomass heating systems will lead to significant savings, both in fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The systems will initially be powered by wood chip, but from 2015, new EU regulations mean that poultry litter can also be used as fuel.
The project is being managed by Lumicity Ltd, which secured £24.5m of funding for the project from the UK Green Investment Bank.
David Joll, executive chairman, Bernard Matthews, said: “Sustainability is central to our long term business strategy. We’re already generating a large proportion of our energy needs from other renewable sources, including solar and wind, and with the addition of biomass boilers on our farms, we’re well placed to be generating 100 per cent of our energy sustainably by 2016.”
Tristan Fischer, CEO of Lumicity, added: “Having grown up on a family farm, I derive no greater satisfaction than from helping farmers navigate the renewable energy landscape and secure the best possible deal. Lumicity is delighted to have brought together Bernard Matthews with the latest, proven biomass technology providers and Equitix energy efficiency finance. We are very proud to have played a leading role in the development of one of the largest installations of distributed heating in the UK. We look forward to working with the various parties as we continue to manage the project.”