Shropshire company helps cut fuel costs of Ireland attraction
A renewable heating company, run by a Shropshire businessman, has helped to slash the energy bills of one of Ireland's top attractions by more than 60 per cent.
Waterpoint, in Sligo County, is a unique fusion of water park, health suite and sports centre, which includes a 65-metre flume waterslide and state-of-the-art gym.
As part of a sustainable redevelopment of the Enniscrone site, Waterpoint is now heated by a ÖkoFEN wood pellet system supplied by Shropshire businessman Andy Boroughs from Organic Energy.
Mr Boroughs, managing director, said: “The largest element of the redevelopment at Waterpoint was the new wood pellet heating system which was developed to meet the specific needs of the facility.
“An ÖkoFEN Energy Box, which is delivered ready for installation and connected up to the heating system in a matter of hours, was selected to meet the load produced by the pool, space heating and hot water for the entire centre.”
The Energy Box is a complete plant room designed and pre-fabricated by ÖkoFEN for any building or home, which is lowered onto a concrete base on site. The installation at Waterpoint is an Energy Box Type E, with four 56kW ÖkoFEN Pellematic Wood Pellet Boilers operating in a cascade, with automatic fuel supply, heat metering, ash compression system, boiler 'back end' protection and fully automated digital heating controls.
Mr Boroughs said: “The Energy Box with its four boilers is an excellent example of how this low carbon technology can be installed quickly with little disruption – the centre was only closed for two half days throughout the installation.
“The boiler heating system's output matches demand delivering between 17kW and 230kW at, or above, 92 per cent efficiency and is monitored remotely online.”
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, recently joined the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Michael Fleming, and members of the Board of Enniscrone Leisure Ltd for the unveiling of the new facilities.
Mary Rafter, manager of Waterpoint said: “The savings we can report following the installation of the wood-pellet boiler system have given a great lift to everyone at Waterpoint. The rewards were immediate. Our spend on oil was at €1800 per week and the wood pellets cost €2500 every five weeks. This has generated a 60 per cent saving on fuel alone. A story such as ours should give other business hope, there are other forms heating supply and power that we all should embrace.”
