Approved for tax savings

Fulton Boilers’ RCB horizontal wet-back fire tube boilers are now available with optional ECA-approved burners and, with these fitted, the boilers qualify for the Government-backed Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme.

The scheme run by the Inland Revenue, DEFRA and the Carbon Trust allows businesses to write off the whole capital cost of approved energy-saving technology and products against taxable profits in year one of the investment. So the business enjoys a cash-flow boost and benefits from a shorter payback on its investment.

Companies buying or replacing a steam boiler can claim both the capital and installation costs.

To give an idea of the kind of savings, and payback possible, Fulton quotes figures based on those for 2004 for a steam plant in the north of England. This had four boilers (two 1,500kW and two 2,100kW, all with high/low burners). Estimates per boiler/burner are:

• additional cost per boiler with ECA-approved Nu-way burner, £2,300

• estimated annual running-cost saving per ECA-approved boiler (based on plant application and gas and electricity used), £2,750

•a payback period, using an ECA burner, of less than one year

• projected saving over 10 years at current fuel cost, £27,500 plus; with fuel costs predicted to continue rising, Fulton says these savings will almost certainly improve.

The figures show that the more sophisticated the burner and control specification the shorter the payback period. In addition there are operational advantages in the ECA specification for boiler/burner equipment with modulating control and variable speed drive.

Fulton’s sales and marketing director Gordon Bareham says the company is delighted that the RBC ECA range has been included in the energy technology list.

He believes the boilers have a double benefit as not only does a high efficiency steam boiler qualify for the enhanced capital allowance, but it also reduces running costs at a time when businesses are faced with high rises in energy prices.