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O&S Doors, a door manufacturing company located near Benburb in County Tyrone, is advancing a unique approach to energy sustainability by converting wood dust waste into electricity. This initiative forms a central part of the company’s recent multimillion-pound investment in renewable energy and heat technologies. According to Dermot O’Brien of O&S Doors, this project, which has been under development for around eight years, aims to have the company generating its own power by early 2027. He emphasized, “It will be a first on this entire island and we’re proud of that.” Utilizing the wood dust, a by-product of kitchen door fabrication, to produce electricity could significantly reduce their energy costs and environmental footprint.
Currently, the firm ships the residual wood dust to England, where it is either repurposed as animal bedding or disposed of in landfills. The innovative plan involves installing a biomass-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) system on-site, which will repurpose the dust locally. This system is expected to consume over 10,000 tonnes of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) dust annually, generating around 1MW of electricity. The energy produced, estimated at 6.3 million units, will not only power parts of the factory but also offset approximately 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
Funding for this green project has been secured through the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant scheme, a €20 million fund jointly supported by the Irish government aimed at promoting sustainable industrial technologies. O&S Doors was one of three County Tyrone companies awarded financial backing, receiving £2.4 million towards the £9 million CHP system investment. This funding is part of a broader Shared Island Fund supporting various regional infrastructure and development projects, including efforts to enhance transport links and revive long-delayed constructions.
High-profile visits to the factory highlight the significance of the project for both industry and the local community. First Minister Michelle O’Neill praised the development as a “fabulous success story” and recognized its transformative impact on the region’s future industrial landscape. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald also commended the company’s ambition and innovation, emphasizing the collaborative effort across economic agencies on the island. While other factories in the area face job uncertainties, Dermot O’Brien expressed optimism about growth, noting that O&S Doors already employs around 400 people locally and is open to expanding its workforce alongside its sustainable development goals
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