Caledon Buccleuch

NEWS RELEASE
June 2008

A new power emerges in biomass energy
Caledon Green, a leading renewable energy specialist in the commercial property and land management sectors, has invested in Scottish-based biomass energy company Buccleuch BioEnergy.  The new joint venture company, called Caledon Buccleuch BioEnergy, will offer its range of highly efficient woodchip-fuelled boilers, engineering expertise and renewable fuel supplies to customers in the commercial property, educational, healthcare and government sectors throughout the UK.

Iain Wotherspoon, Chairman of Caledon Green, said:

“Buccleuch BioEnergy has an excellent track record, which fits in well with our expertise across all renewable energy technologies within the property sector.  The new company will therefore be well positioned to exploit the many opportunities in the rapidly growing market for renewable energy.”

Biomass, chiefly in the form of wood, is Europe’s leading renewable energy source, accounting for 59% of renewable energy outputs across the EU.  Biomass is a low carbon form of renewable energy, with energy supply costs competitive with mains electricity, gas and oil.

David Peck from Buccleuch BioEnergy warmly welcomes the deal:

“We have established a leading position in the biomass energy business in Scotland, drawing fuel from our land and forestry management operations on the Buccleuch Estates.  With the expertise and resources of Caledon Green, we aim to take our engineering skills and technology to a much wider audience throughout the UK.”

The great majority of biomass in the UK is a co-product from ongoing forest and farm management operations and sawmilling.  Looking ahead, the UK forestry sector will be producing up to 15 million tonnes per annum of timber and wood products by 2020, with a possible additional wood fuel resource of 7 million tonnes per annum available. 

The current market is served by ongoing management operations, but as demand rises in the future, dedicated energy crops such as short rotation coppice will be needed.  New wood fuel crops in the UK can be planted without affecting agricultural output, for example, through the use of the 680,000 hectares of set-aside land.

Buccleuch BioEnergy has installed active biomass plants for a range of users, including Gleneagles Hotel, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Aboyne Academy in Aberdeenshire and for the Albyn Housing Association in Aviemore.  Further details on these projects are available.

ENDS

CONTACT
Michael Groves or Carol Stewart, Great Circle
T:  0131 225 4646
E: michael.groves@greatcircle.co.uk
E: carolstewart@greatcircle.co.uk

CALEDON GREEN
www.caledongreen.com
www.caledonbuccleuch.com
Caledon Green was established by property entrepreneur Iain Wotherspoon, with the aim of harnessing the most appropriate renewable energy systems within the commercial property and land management sectors.  The company works with developers and landowners to assess and specify the optimum energy solution, create and commission clean energy systems and operate these systems in the long term.  Its core energy and property expertise is augmented by alliances with leading players in small scale hydro, biomass, biomass electrical, energy from waste, anaerobic digestion, wind, solar, fuel cell and marine energy.  Caledon Green’s systems optimise the mix of energy technologies to create a cost effective, localised energy supply for developers, land-owners and property managers.

BUCCLEUCH BIOENERGY
www.buccleuch-energy.com
www.caledonbuccleuch.com
Buccleuch BioEnergy specialises in heat supply and maintenance contracts for commercial and industrial scale biomass projects.  The company designs and installs biomass boiler systems based on world-leading technology from Austrian manufacturer Kohlbach GmbH.  It works with clients from the earliest planning stage through installation, operation and maintenance.  Wood fuels derive from the Buccleuch Estate in the Scottish Borders and a range of UK forestry sources via partner company Buccleuch Natural Fuels.