A NORTH Yorkshire renewable energy company has secured a £5 million funding pot to help businesses switch to biomass.

The scheme will be operated by Harrogate-based Think Renewable Energy, which has completed some of the region’s biggest clean energy projects.

They include 700kW of renewable energy technologies at Fridlington Farms, York and the recent installation for John Lewis’s Monks Cross store.

Under the scheme, which is supported by debt finance, businesses can apply for a fully funded biomass system to enable them to manage their energy costs and reduce CO2 emissions.

Anthony Barrett, chief executive of Think Renewable Energy, said the free business biomass scheme has the potential to fund 7MW of biomass installations and reduce the region’s CO2 emissions by 65,000 tonnes.

He said: “Biomass provides an excellent opportunity to achieve C02 savings without any capital cost.

“Our customers are achieving up to 50pc fuel savings from the switch to biomass which makes the scheme very attractive for any commercial organisation.”

The scheme means businesses that have thought of biomass as a long term goal can bring their plans forward, or those that have already earmarked capital can apply for free biomass.

The scheme covers the entire cost of each biomass system and includes a free feasibility study to determine the most effective solution.

Think Renewable Energy will project manage the installation and will be responsible for servicing, maintaining and monitoring it for 20 years.