A new Yorkshire-based wood fuel venture has been officially launched.

VerdEnergy based in Tockwith, near York, aims to become the pre-eminent supplier of wood pellets for boilers across the North of England.

It already supplies many homes, farms, schools, greenhouses, offices, swimming pools and hotels who are off the gas grid and who previously relied on oil or LPG.

Rudie Humphrey, operations manager, said they aim to concentrate on a 50 to 80 mile radius of Tockwith – which takes in large parts of Yorkshire, Cumbria, the North East and North Midlands.

"This area has always been a big user because more people are off the gas grid and dependant on oil or LPG," he said.

"At the moment it is mostly serviced by external suppliers but we aim to offer a local, speedy and flexible service."

The aim is to provide a next day service and there is a guarantee of within 48 hours.

The company sources the pellets from the UK and Europe, bringing them into Goole. All the wood is FSC certified – meeting the highest international environmental standards.

The pellets are then stored at, and delivered from, Leeds and Melmerby, near Ripon.

VerdEnergy is a sister company of Duncan Renewables who supply, install and maintain wood fuel boilers.

"Together we can source, install and service boilers and importantly provide a Yorkshire-based supplier of fuel," said Mr Humphrey, ex-Forestry Commission wood fuel chief for Yorkshire and the North East.

Customers who sign longer term contracts benefit from remote monitoring and automated ordering, coupled with boiler maintenance contracts.

The boilers "talk" to the office twice a day with news of how much energy is being used and how much fuel is left. Based on that information the office contacts the customer to arrange a full or top up delivery.

One of the company's first customers were Dirk and Alison Pittaway of Mount Pleasant Farm, Whashton, near Richmond.

The farmhouse and buildings, along with four B&B cottages and two luxury farmhouse bedrooms, are all wood fuel powered.

"We used to have oil, electricity, coal and LPG but now everything is just biomass," said Mr Pittaway, "We used to have massive electricity bills but its a lot cheaper now."

Mrs Pittaway added: "There can be 30 people staying here but we have never run out of hot water, it is constantly hot."

Since the Pittaway's had their wood boiler installed they know of eight or nine others which have been installed in the immediate area.

Mr Humphrey said: "Switching to wood fuel provides a host of benefits. It creates extra demand for timber which mean woods can be actively managed and that's better for wildlife. In turn this provides jobs in the processing and distribution industries and cuts down on our use of greenhouse gas fuels.

"It's a virtuous circle and through our expertise and local supply network we are making the sector more resilient and sustainable."

See verdenergy.co.uk