Key facts about Fibre Fuel

Fibre Fuel is used by Slough Heat and Power’s energy centre to generate electricity, hot water and steam for local businesses on the Slough Trading Estate and electricity for local residents.

Fibre Fuel is used to fuel one multi-fuelled vibrating grate boiler that drives a 12MW pass-out steam turbine. Electricity output is sold under a Non Fossil Fuel Obligation contract.

This is one part of the energy centre – read more about the whole facility here.

The paper and cardboard that is used to make Fibre Fuel has biological origins – trees grew and were harvested to manufacture the paper and cardboard. Fibre Fuel is a type of bioenergy. It is therefore termed a “carbon neutral” fuel. Read more about the carbon cycle here.

Some key statistics are as follows:

Fibre Fuel is approximately 2/3rds the calorific value of coal.

Up to 20 tonnes of fibre fuel is produced in 1 hour.

1 tonne of fibre fuel would run a 100 watt light bulb for 1½ years.

13 tonnes of fibre fuel produces 12,000 kW of electricity and 20,000 kW of heat which is sold to local factories.

100,000 tonnes avoids landfill each year, equivalent to 12 football pitches piled 10 metres high.