A major manufacturing investment in Northern Ireland is reshaping how energy, waste and production efficiency are managed at scale. O&S Doors, the UK and Ireland’s largest manufacturer of wooden doors and panels, has committed £9 million (€10.5 million) to install a biomass-fuelled Combined Heat and Power system at its Dungannon facility.

The project is co-funded by the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant Scheme, including £2.4 million (€2.8 million) in grant support, and is the first installation of its kind anywhere on the island of Ireland.

The system will convert MDF dust, a by-product previously transported offsite for processing or landfill, into 6.3 million units of energy annually to support heating and manufacturing operations.

Making the announcement during a site visit, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “This is a hugely innovative investment by O&S Doors and a real commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Turning MDF dust into clean energy is good for the environment and makes economic sense.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly highlighted the wider economic implications of the project.

“Investing in high-efficiency technology and greener ways of working is essential if we are to harness our economic potential, drive productivity and boost our growing reputation on the world’s economic stage while creating jobs and supporting long-term growth,” she said.

The new CHP system will burn more than 10,000 tonnes of MDF dust each year, generating 1 MW of electricity and delivering carbon savings of approximately 1,500 tonnes per annum from company operations.

By eliminating off-site waste transport and reducing dependence on purchased electricity, the project directly lowers operational costs while increasing resilience in energy supply.

Explore the full details behind this investment and its operational impact in the full article.