Written by: Melanie Wedgbury
2024
West Sussex Golf Club was an early adopter of renewable energy as a means of providing heat and hot water for the main part of the Clubhouse. With no access to mains gas, traditionally the Clubhouse relied on oil-fired boilers for its heat and hot water.
In 2012, amid increasing awareness of the threat of climate change, historically high oil prices and ageing oil-fired boilers, energy management measures were considered. The decision was taken to switch to a biomass-fired boiler to generate heat and hot water for the main part of the Clubhouse.
The government’s Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) makes regular payments, which coupled with the fuel cost savings, has already delivered a payback period of four-and-half years with continued fuel cost savings thereafter. Most, if not all, of the wood pellets supplied are manufactured in the UK, the bulk coming from pellet mills in Scotland.
As a renewable and sustainable alternative to oil, biomass has brought the environmental benefit of a dramatic reduction in the Club’s carbon footprint. Average carbon emissions savings are calculated at 28 tonnes each year, making cumulative savings of approaching 310 tonnes to date.
