Official opening of UK's first community-owned school biomass boiler

24th February 2015

The UK’s first community owned school biomass boiler will have its grand opening take place on Saturday 28 February at John Cleveland College. It will be hosted by John Cleveland College Community Woodheat Co-operative in partnership with the Green Fox Community Energy Co-operative.

A community share offer has been used to raise finance and support this large-scale biomass project. The woodchip boiler will allow the college to cut heating and energy bills by around £30,000 a year, in addition to saving 250 tonnes worth of carbon emissions a year.

JCC Community Woodheat Co-operative is a collaborative project driven by Green Fox Community Energy Co-operative, Transition Leicester and Sharenergy. Leading biomass boiler installer Rural Energy was selected to implement the installation of the woodchip boiler at John Cleveland College.

With over 1,700 students, John Cleveland College hopes the project will support jobs and the local wood-fuel economy, develops links between renewables and the curriculum and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, specifically its oil heating system.

During the event there will be tour of the working boiler house and a short presentation. The guest of honour is Fiona Booth, Head of Community Energy at the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). For further details on the event and for those who wish to attend, individuals should rsvp to info@greenfoxcommunityenergy.coop.