The Environmental business is an established solutions provider with a proven track record in the design, manufacture and installation of on-site rainwater capture, wastewater treatment and air pollution abatement systems.

 

Our strategy for the business is to further globalise the deployment of existing technologies while continuing to broaden their applications and develop new solutions through a structured research and development programme.

 

Through the application of leading-edge patented technologies, Bord na Móna promotes sustainable high performance solutions consistent with low energy usage and low lifecycle cost.

 

That combination has proven a successful business mix for our broad range of domestic, industrial and municipal clients in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America and Asia.

 

Our Clean Air Solutions business has recently launched its product range in the US and is simultaneously broadening its GLOBAL penetration.

 

 

 

 

 

Q. What is the impact of the global downturn on your environmental business?
The current downturn in housing has affected both the Irish and US wastewater treatment businesses. This negative impact has, however, been mitigated by the diversified nature of our customer base.

 

In Ireland, new business opportunities have been secured in the treatment of effluent from the leisure, educational and health sectors. Similarly, niche markets have been successfully targeted in the UK. A subsidiary company, Acorn, has expanded its manufacturing capability as well as its product range for wastewater treatment and ancillary products. The introduction of Rainsava, our rain harvesting product, is also targeted at broadening both our customer base and product offering.

 

Our Clean Air Solutions business has recently launched its product range in the US and is simultaneously broadening its global penetration. The range of effluent treatment products/technologies offered has also been expanded to target the broader de-centralised wastewater market.

 

Q. What odour control products do you intend to develop globally?
The Bord na Móna patented odour/VOC control technologies are now being recognised as leading edge across a range of applications. The MÓNAFIL® technology, applicable mainly to the municipal solid waste sector, has demonstrated “best in class” for high treatment efficiency, long media life and low energy costs. It has been broadly applied in Italy, UK and Spain driven by the enforcement of the EU landfill directive.

 

With over 500 installed plants throughout the globe, on a range of wastewater treatment and industrial odour applications, MÓNASHELL® is deemed “best in class” for treatment efficiency and “whole life cycle cost”. Bord na Móna’s unique competency in air pollution abatement process design is further evidenced in the breadth of its industrial VOC applications.

Q. How important is innovation for the delivery of your objectives?
Over the past 20 years, innovation has been ongoing in the Environmental business, initially focused on using peat to provide abatement solutions. It has now broadened to encompass other media for odour control and other technologies for wastewater treatment.

 

In the past year, we established a world-class Innovation Centre in the US at the Greensboro Municipal Wastewater Treatment facility, North Carolina. This, in conjunction with R&D programmes currently being undertaken with Third Level institutions in Ireland and the US, will provide solutions to address emerging environmental challenges.

 

Q. What big opportunities exist for you in Ireland?
Bord na Móna has spent the last 75 years draining land for peat harvesting. Under our licence from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Group is obliged to implement an acceptable after-use plan for each site that has ceased peat production. Using cutaway bogs as a water storage/capture facility would fit into this category and also be in line with the ‘New Contract with Nature’.

 

Bord na Móna has the potential to provide a solution to Ireland’s growing water supply needs and with its proven competency on major infrastructural projects it is well placed to deliver such solutions. Bord na Móna has developed a significant and growing presence in the water/wastewater treatment sector providing sewage treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems and surface water solutions across a broad range of domestic, industrial and municipal clients in Ireland, Britain, Continental Europe and the US.

 

Bord na Móna is ready, willing and able to play a significant part in this growing area of sectoral significance.