LC Energy, a specialist in sustainable wood fuel supply, has announced its acquisition of Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business, a top supplier of high-grade wood pellets based in Surrey, UK.

An interesting observation ahead of gasworld’s upcoming Green Issue, the deal is seen as highlighting the growth and potential in the biomass fuel sector.

LC Energy operates across the South and East of England with an established base of public, private and commercial sectors from primary schools and care homes to global hotel groups, leisure parks, hospitals and international airports.

As well as developing a leading reputation for the supply of biomass wood fuel solutions, including design and feasibility, service and maintenance, LC Energy has been recognised for its policy of supplying wood chip fuel, which is sustainably harvested and sourced locally.

Mark Lebus, Managing Director of LC Energy, said, “There is no doubt that this is a market with excellent potential. We’re already seeing a significant increase in the numbers of organisations and householders recognising the value of wood fuel energy, both for reducing their carbon footprint and lessening their reliance on fossil fuels.”

Harvest Wood Fuels sources its premium pellets from local producers who use local woodland management arisings as a raw material. Wood chip is used to fire boilers in industrial, commercial and some large residential applications but the carbon-neutral pellets are used in a variety of other heaters, including wood pellet boilers, existing hearths or solid fuel burners in private homes.

Business entrepreneur Lance Trevellyan, who founded and sold Harvest Wood Fuels bulk pellet business to LC Energy, observed, “The sale of Harvest Wood Fuels to LC Energy makes a lot of sense, and I look forward to seeing the two sides of the business flourish in this fledgling, but rapidly growing industry.”

Trevellyan has recently received planning permission at his Group’s Tilford site to develop a sawmill, a wood chip fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant and wood pellet production. The plant will generate both electricity and heat from wood chip to be used in the production of dry wood chip (a proportion of which will be used to fuel the CHP plant) and Grade A1 wood pellets for wholesale to LC Energy.