Earthmill expands into woodchip generation

Fuelled by woodchip, the CHP process heats fuel to extremely high temperatures in order to produce a flammable gas to drive a generator and produce electricity. The heat produced is transferred into water which can then be used by high energy using farms to heat dairies, or pig or poultry sheds. The process is more than 88 per cent efficient.

The deal will​ enable​ Earthmill ​to ​exclusively sell industry leading Finnish-built CHP systems across Yorkshire, Cheshire, Mid and North Wales.

​Wetherby-based​ ​Earthmill will initially target the farming sector with systems that enable farmers to reduce heating costs and at the same time generate revenue and savings from power generation​.​

The firm’s wind power division has supplied farmers with more than 250 turbines since it was established by managing director Steve Milner from his garage in 2009.

Following more than a year of research and negotiation with suppliers in the low-carbon technology sector, the business has announced its partnership with Arbor, the UK distribution partner of Finnish company, Volter.

​Mr Milner said: “Small scale CHP isn’t a new concept in Europe but it’s still in its infancy in the UK.

​“​Drawing on Arbor’s expertise in the industry, this new partnership perfectly complements our wind turbine offer and, since the cut in wind subsidies earlier this year, represents a financially viable alternative that will help farms and businesses with a large heat demand future-proof themselves against rising energy costs.”