Doing Green Energy Right
Green Energy is now mainstream and no longer just a ‘nice alternative’ if you can afford it. How can we help you ‘Do Green Energy Right?’
Contact us for an energy consultation now!
While our original core expertise has been with biomass heating and power systems, we have deep expertise in combined heat and power (CHP) – both gas and biomass, solar PV and heating systems, heat humps (GSHP, sewage and water based systems), energy storage and district heating.
Our team of Associates bring technical, financial and commercial experience to the table to allow you to gain an objective and honest insight to a project. We are also close to the commercial market so understand costs and value for money options. However, as we do not sell technology and have no commercial tie-ups with green technology companies, we can be fully objective.
Energy experts
Studies conducted
Years combined experience
Stewart Boyle
Stewart has over the past 20 years worked for environmental NGOs, commercial biomass companies, and public sector agencies. He is particularly experienced in the biomass fuel and heat sectors, having set up wood pellet and chip distribution networks. He has led and managed three major HNDU heat network studies recently featuring biomass, heat pumps and gas-CHP.
Thomas Burnett
Thomas spent 10 years working for Shell in projects, technology and commercial roles including Alternative Energy and Mergers and Acquisitions. Since 2011 he has been an independent consultant in the renewable energy sector. He is a Director of Dorset Community Energy and Nadder Community Energy.
Ewan Bent
Ewan spent 11 years in developing Midlands Wood Fuels (MWF) into a business selling over 30,000 tonnes of chips a year and with a turnover in excess of £3.3 million. He expanded the company’s depot network to ten. He brings extensive feasibility study experience as well as strong commercial and wood fuel strategy analysis for small to utility scale clients.
Matthew Morris
Matthew ran the Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder from 2011 until mid-2016. He has undertaken many site and building surveys, estimates of heat loads/boiler sizes and analysis of project costs and benefits. He has worked with a variety of stakeholders, including national retailers, private investors, land agents, forest agents, local government and property developers. He has been leading on a major solar roofs project within the railway industry.
Paul Spencer
Paul is an engineer and controls specialist who has more than 30 years experience in the biomass heating and power sector. He has knowledge of most of the biomass boiler systems in the UK and overseas, including installation, servicing and trouble-shooting.
What we can do for you
Detailed Green Energy Feasibility Studies
Develop Community Energy Strategies and Projects
Work on Existing Green Projects
Tendering and Project Management
Technology Appraisals
Answers to Your Questions
What is green energy?
Green energy is a term commonly used to describe a suite of low-carbon renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, heat pumps and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) using gas and biomass. At VEA we also emphasise the need for improved energy efficiency in projects as a way of reducing the demand for heat and power.
Is biomass really green?
Biomass includes a range of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels that can be used to produce heat, power, transport motion and chemicals. Like any technology or fuel it can be used well or inappropriately so it’s important to use it efficiently and without adversely impacting on air emissions including carbon dioxide (CO2), land-use so that it doesn’t compete with the growing of food, and biodiversity.
VEA and South East Wood Fuels take great care when proposing biomass energy options. For solid biomass we ensure that any fuels supplying heating boilers and CHP plant come from forests and residue sources such as sawmills where sustainability criteria are used, the woods are under formal management plans including replanting, and Forestry Commission woodland standards are met. Working with its partners South East Wood Fuels, VEA can offer serious experience and appraisal skills when looking at biomass resources and costs.
What green technologies are available and make sense?
There are many low carbon technologies now available for both heat and power. They include heat pumps – now available via sea and freshwater, sewage, air and ground sources, biomass, solar water heating, biomethane, solar PV and wind. The availability of battery storage has opened up opportunities to improve the impact of the more intermittent renewable technologies, though it is not a cheap option. Gas based CHP is essentially a grey-green technology, offering some CO2 savings (though this is diminishing as the grid de-carbonises). There have been a range of government support schemes available over the past 10 years – including capital grants, Feed-In tariffs, and the Renewable heat Incentive (RHI) – which is essentially a heat tariff. Many of these are now either finished or are diminishing in scope. The RHI, offering a 20-year income stream, is still operational and can be a good option for the right heat project and technology. When we view these options we can utilise our modelling suite that looks at both technical viability and costs to see what is the best option for you.
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Where to find us
Shawfield
Laughton Lodge
Laughton
East Sussex
BN8 6BY
07785 726306
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