Biomass Boiler Systems, Biomass Energy Systems, Sustainable Fuels Management, Tyne and Wear, UK

District heating well underway

UK Biomass is well under way with the installation of a 800kW biomass district heating scheme at Barony College, Dumfries. The scheme will utilise biomass heating to provide heat and hot water to the agricultural college year-round, feeding the main teaching building and two accommodation blocks, with provision made for future expansion at the site.

The system consists of a 500kW Binder boiler, thermal store and a pre-cast concrete fuel store, with mechanical fuel extraction via a rotary agitator and screw auger. The boiler, fuel store and fuel delivery system have been designed with fuel flexibility in mind and are capable of handling either woodchip or pellet, ensuring that the client will have access to the most cost-effective fuel source throughout the lifetime of the plant.

The Biomass heating and hot water is distributed to demand centres via buried PEX piping, which is a cost-effective solution that offers minimal heat losses and outstanding network reliability. The district heating network and biomass heating plant have been integrated with the site’s existing distribution system, and optimal performance is achieved via an advanced control system. Remote monitoring via the internet and SMS means that the system is user-friendly, and will help to reduce system down-time by enabling rapid fault diagnosis.

This installation will deliver significant carbon savings as well as reducing annual energy expenditure at the college.