The present use of carbon-based non-renewable energy is unsustainable because of the resultant CO2 emissions, which the UK government plans to reduce by 60% from current levels by 2050. Building Regulations will require new houses to be 'zero carbon' by 2016. A zero carbon home produces zero net emissions of CO2 from all energy use in the home.

Our plant will generate heat and electricity using wood as fuel sourced locally from forests and sawmills. Wood is a renewable fuel and is 'carbon lean' – although CO2 is released into the atmosphere when burnt, an equivalent amount has been taken from the atmosphere during growth. Space heating and hot water accounts for 83% of domestic energy use. Accordingly, using wood to generate your heat will go a long way to achieving carbon zero homes. Electricity produced will be supplied onto the National Grid.

With an ever-increasing proportion of UK energy being met from abroad and political instability in many of the energy producing countries, it is vitally important to source domestic supplies of energy for our own security.Our plant will use around 8,000 tonnes of wood per annum sourced from local forests and sawmills. With a long tradition in forestry, Royal Deeside has a potential sustainable supply of 200,000 tonnes per annum. We will develop long-term partnerships with local producers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of heat to your home.

In the event of woodfuel supply failures the plant will switch to a standby gas-fuelled boiler which will continue to generate heat to meet your energy needs. As in other Bancon Homes, an electrical immersion hot water cylinder will be installed to provide backup should the supply of hot water to your home be interrupted.

Bancon Homes        Hill of Banchory Development