Northern Ireland’s O&S Doors has launched a £9 million biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system at its Dungannon facility, converting MDF dust into 6.3 million energy units for heating and production, as reported by The Executive Office.

The investment, co-funded by a £2.4 million grant from the Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant Scheme, is the first of its kind across the island of Ireland.

The system will process over 10,000 tonnes of MDF dust annually, generating 1 MW of electricity and reducing carbon emissions by 1,500 tonnes per year.

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. I am delighted to see a local company leading the way with technology of this scale and ambition.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: “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.”

CEO John Toomey emphasised the project’s alignment with O&S Doors’ net-zero 2028 ambitions: “This new CHP project is another central pillar to this ambition enabling us to reduce our reliance on purchasing electricity and reduce production of emissions linked to off-site MDF waste transport.”

The project is part of a wider initiative by Invest Northern Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and InterTradeIreland under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, which leverages over €63.5 million in private sector investment for decarbonisation and energy efficiency across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Discover how O&S Doors is reshaping industrial energy use across Northern Ireland in the full report.