ESIM, Green Heating Solutions, establishes a partnership for the North American market with KWB, an Austrian manufacturer of efficient biomass-based heating systems

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Sept. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - ESIM, Green Heating Solutions, a manufacturer created by two pioneering local companies, Groupe Simoneau and LGI Solutions, has established a co-operation agreement with KWB - Kraft und Wärme aus Biomasse GmbH, a major Austrian company specializing in biomass-based heating systems and the current world market leader in this field.

Under this agreement, ESIM will serve as Canadian distributor and manufacturer, putting Groupe Simoneau's agent, sales and technical-service network to immediate use and enabling KWB to market its products in Canada and the United States. KWB Multifire boilers, using wood pellets and wood chips for heating and adapted to the strictest North American standards, have just completed performance trials toward official certification.

An initial automatic heating system using Québec biomass will be installed at Saint-Germain-de-Grantham church. Conversion of the existing oil-based heating system will cut CO₂ emissions by 70 tons\year, the equivalent of that produced by about 139 cars. A demonstration project, the first in Canada, using this technology in a roof installation is also planned soon at Magnus Chemicals Ltd.

Laurent Giérula, an engineer and General Manager of ESIM, says KWB has unequalled expertise in the biomass heating field, with access to the world's largest research centres in this area. "We have conducted numerous analyses of all existing automatic biomass heating technologies, and KWB products easily stand out as top performers, with more than 55,000 systems sold worldwide," Mr. Giérula says. "KWB has proven to be the only manufacturer that meets our tangible needs here as regards the devices' capacity and the use of wood pellets and chips as fuel. KWB is also the only European manufacturer to understand that greater local manufacturing also significantly reduces greenhouse gases. Used in a highly efficient heating system, wood in pellet and chip form is the least expensive energy source in Québec and across North America. The ultimate goal with this clean, inexhaustible and, above all, non-fossil energy source is to enhance the environment, today and for future generations."

KWB Managing Director Erwin Stubenschrott is confident that Canada, with its vast forests, is ready to rethink its use of electricity, gas and oil, and to conduct a transition toward renewable fuels. "Canada represents for us a promising market that offers great development potential. The proximity of the United States is an undeniable advantage in driving our penetration of the North American market."

Biomass, fuel of the future
The growing popularity of biomass is linked to two key advantages. First, when well managed, it is an energy source that does not risk depletion, as is unfortunately the case with fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas). And because these fuels are taken from the ground, resupply becomes an added issue. Second, biomass does not add to greenhouse gases because, unlike gas or oil, biomass is not a fossil fuel and is CO₂-neutral, since burning wood in an efficient system produces no more CO₂ than a tree absorbs during its growth. In short, a tree does not add greenhouse gas to the atmosphere when it dies. This is why biomass heads the list in the world market, when it comes to renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro).

In Europe, biomass is a fast-growing market. For example, in France, biomass accounts for more than half of total renewable energy production (11.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent [toe]), and the government is seeking to raise the share of thermal and electrical energy produced by biomass by 7.5 toe between now and 2020.

About ESIM, Green Heating Solutions
ESIM, Green Heating Solutions is a Québec company created by Groupe Simoneau and LGI Solutions. Its primary mission is to develop and market new and innovative commercial heating solutions through eco-design that are beneficial to the environment, economical for users, easily adaptable and, above all, conducive to a greener outlook for current and future generations.

SOURCE: Groupe Simoneau

Source : Groupe Simoneau, www.groupesimoneau.com; Information : Valérie Gonzalo, Communications - Groupe Simoneau, 514 626-6976, [email protected]