Supplier of biomass heating systems helping municipalities and schools save money and ‘go green’

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Skanden Energy to build work force in Maine, hiring sales engineers and enlisting HVAC contractors.


A shed being erected at Kingfield Elementary School to house wood pellets for a new biomass heating system.

SUMNER – Skanden Energy, Inc., an established leader in high-performance biomass heating systems, is helping Maine municipalities and schools convert to wood thermal energy. The high tech company is currently working with local contractors to install state-of-the-art wood pellet boilers at Strong and Kingfield Elementary Schools under a $1.08 million USDA grant, and is offering to help others convert to green energy.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, $11.4 million has been awarded to the Maine Department of Conservation (DOC) to provide grants through its Wood-to-Energy Initiative. These grants, aimed at rural schools and public entities converting to wood heating, can be used to fund the purchase and installation of Skanden equipment. In addition to selling the most advanced biomass heating technology available, Skanden helps rural schools and public entities in other ways. First, Skanden helps them through the grant application process. Then, they guide them through installation, training local contractors and helping them develop expertise in the industry. This maximizes the economic and environmental benefit to the local community.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help Maine communities transform the inefficiencies and hazardous risks of oil heating systems into sustainable, environmentally-friendly biomass heating systems,” said Laura Colban, founder and president of Skanden Energy. “The people of Maine have a great appreciation for the benefits of biomass heating, and we look forward to bringing new job opportunities to the state to support that.”

Skanden Energy is in the process of hiring sales engineers and signing up local heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors as distributors. Skanden Energy will provide training for qualified HVAC contractors.

“We understand the desire to hire local contractors, who are familiar with their buildings and their needs,” said Colban. “We provide a local supervisor who will work with the contractors to ensure the best quality installation, and maximize the benefits to the local economy.”

The company has already been working with SAD 58 to install two wood biomass systems at Strong and Kingfield Elementary Schools. More than a dozen local contractors, including piping, roofers, engineers, electricians, and other specialists have worked on the two projects so far and more will be engaged soon.

“Skanden Energy has demonstrated remarkable commitment to these projects and has far exceeded my expectations,” said SAD 58 superintendent Quenten Clark. “Not only did they secure the grant funding for these installations, but they also increased the amount of the grant substantially. Their expertise and unique skill set enabled us to significantly improve upon many aspects of the installation. They are a reliable team and an excellent company to work with.”

Skanden Energy points to environmental and economic advantages when heating with wood rather than fossil fuels:

  • Lower and More Stable Fuel Costs. Converting from heating oil to wood chips cuts energy costs by 60 – 95 percent, depending on oil and chip prices. Wood prices have remained relatively stable for 40 years, and are currently selling for $30-$60/ton ($3.48-$6.97/million BTUs). Conversely, according to US Department of Energy (DOE), since 2008 oil prices have varied from $2.16/gallon ($15.57/million BTUs) to $4.56/gallon ($32.88/million BTUs).
     
  • Low maintenance, similar to an oil boiler. Controlled remotely via the internet. When wood is burned in a Skanden system, at 2000 degrees, with automated cleaning of boiler tubes and ash removal, emissions are negligible and efficiency is more than 90 percent. Because it is all automated, maintenance is similar to that of an oil burner.
     
  • Fuel flexibility. Can be fueled with wood chips and pellets, as well as agricultural and industrial waste such as corn cobs, soy husks, tomato vines, and similar items.
     
  • Stimulates the Local Economy. Mainers spend $1 billion on foreign heating oil every year. Maine communities would benefit if the money was spent on locally produced biomass fuel.
     
  • Carbon Negative. Biomass is the only renewable energy source that is carbon negative. One third of the carbon absorbed during a plant’s life, is sequestered in its roots which remain in the soil. Heating with a wood boiler is carbon negative in that carbon emissions are lower than the carbon absorbed by the tree during its life. No other renewable energy source has this benefit.

    • For more information about the company, job opportunities, training, distributorships and more, please visit: www.skanden.com or call 512-5699.

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