PBE Fuels, a biomass fuel producer based at Canaston Bridge in Pembrokeshire, Wales, has received planning approval to expand its operations with the construction of two storage sheds at New House Farm, Bioenergy Insight reported.
The proposed facilities will be used to dry and store cereals and biomass materials, including wood chips, pellets and wet wood sourced from forestry operations, sawmills and smaller suppliers.
The company said its existing facilities were unable to meet the growing storage requirements for wood chips and sawdust. It also needs additional drying capacity to process wet biomass delivered to the site.
PBE Fuels supplies wood chips and pellets to commercial and public sector customers across Pembrokeshire and neighbouring counties. Its customers include Bluestone holiday resort and its Blue Lagoon Water Park, Aberglasney Gardens, Folly Farm, care homes, schools, hospitals, hotels and Haverfordwest Leisure Centre.
The company employs 14 people at New House Farm, a 600-acre property that has expanded from its original 250 acres. The site also accommodates offices serving the nearby Bluestone complex.
PBE Fuels’ biomass operations date back to 2005, when Bluestone entered into an agreement with the company to develop an environmentally sustainable and commercially viable heating solution for its Blue Lagoon Water Park.
Planning permission for biomass storage facilities was granted in 2007. Since then, PBE Fuels has supplied dry wood chips to provide heat for the water park for nearly two decades.
