Printing and publishing company Y Lolfa have decided to embrace green technology by installing a biomass system for heating its offices as well as its two large warehouses. The unit, which costs almost 100,000 will feed 30 radiators via water and also produce warm air to control the temperature of the paper and book stock.

Paul Williams, Production Manager at Y Lolfa, was responsible for ordering and running the system. One of our reasons for going this way was very simple: the increase in gas and electricity bills. This new system will be much cheaper while also being kind to the environment: its carbon neutral.

We installed some PV solar panels two years ago, and in spite of those years not being particularly sunny, they produced 8,000 per year of electricity for us via tariff rebate. Theyll have paid for themselves in another five years. The biomass system is supported by the governments RHI Renewable Heat Initiative and will be paid for in eight or nine years.

Its also simple to control. Paul explained that he can keep track of both systems performance from his Apple Mac. I can see exactly how much energy is produced each day, and how much we get paid for it. And theres no maintenance: the new unit feeds itself.

Both solar and biomass systems were installed by Dulas Ltd. from nearby Machynlleth. The unit itself is Austrian while the woodchip pellets are delivered by PBE Fuels of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

Garmon Gruffudd, Managing Director at Y Lolfa, said: Were very thankful to Paul for his leadership and detailed work. All the staff say our premises are now much more pleasant to work in. Its nice that we can be principled and economically sensible at the same time.