Christopher Carvill (Managing Director, The Carvill Group) with Mayor of Lisburn Cllr Ronnie Crawford, Howard Roche (Vital Energi) and Rt Hon Sammy Wilson.

The Rt Hon Sammy Wilson, Minister of Environment has officially switched on phase one of Vital Energi's innovative biomass community heating scheme at the Woodbrook Eco-Village in Lisburn. Developed by Belfast-based Carvill Group, this pioneering scheme is the largest of its kind and when complete will provide heat and hot water to 1000 new homes.

Vital Energi have designed, supplied, installed and will be operating and maintaining this carbon neutral scheme currently delivering heating and hot water to 343 homes on the development. The installation features four 500kW wood-burning boilers, housed within a purpose built energy centre at the edge of the site. This specialist technology is fuelled 100% on biomass, both duty and stand by, with no requirement for an oil back up facility. Wood chips to fuel the boilers are produced from willow currently being grown by local farmers.

Homeowners on the development will benefit from affordable and sustainable living, with cheaper heating bills in the region of 60% together with a 75% reduction in carbon emissions.

View a media clip showing plans for the Woodbrook Eco-Village at mms://play950.servecast.com/streamon/carvill/Woodbrook300k.wmv

For more information on The Carvill Group visit http://www.carvill-group.com