Bob McIlwraith, Lochgilphead Biomass District Heating ... - Base
Bob McIlwraith, Lochgilphead Biomass District Heating ... - Base
Bob McIlwraith, Lochgilphead Biomass District Heating ... - Base
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Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
<strong>Biomass</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 1
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Outline<br />
• Comments focus on <strong>Biomass</strong> DH systems in social housing projects<br />
• Examine 3 Case Studies of HA projects in the Highlands and Islands ie.<br />
Shore St. Campbeltown, Lynn Rd. Kirkwall and Ross Cr. <strong>Lochgilphead</strong><br />
• Problems can abound in key areas such as<br />
Project Facilitation / <strong>Heating</strong> Equip. / Fuel Supply Chain / O and M<br />
• Consider a Tool that links these key areas as an integrated process<br />
• Conclusions and Lessons to be Learned<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 2
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Campbeltown <strong>Biomass</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong>…………………..Gone<br />
• Fyne Homes 2004 development of block of 14 flats<br />
• Capital cost of £124,500 ( SCHRI grant of £70,600)<br />
• 100kw Talbott biomass boiler, with 16 M3 chip store &<br />
fuel feed system, plus 100kw gas back-up boiler<br />
• Woodchip supply coming from waste slab-wood from<br />
local sawmill. Delivered in 1.5 M3 bulk bags.<br />
Problems found<br />
• Estimate of heat demand from houses too high<br />
• <strong>Biomass</strong> boiler was oversized,<br />
• <strong>Biomass</strong> boiler would not modulate for low demand<br />
• Kept going out needing on-site contractor visit to relight<br />
• Fuel store was not weatherproof. Rain ran in through<br />
roof loading hatches, and saturated woodfuel in hopper.<br />
• System ran 95% on gas back-up boiler<br />
• <strong>Biomass</strong> system removed completely in 2009<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 3
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Orkney <strong>Biomass</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong>………………….……..Gone<br />
• Orkney HA 2003 development of 40 houses.<br />
• 350 kw LAKA biomass boiler, with 16 M3 chip store &<br />
underground chip blower, plus 250 kw oil back-up boiler<br />
• No trees or commercial forestry available on Orkney so<br />
chip supply coming from timber pallets shredded by<br />
Council, plus pilot scheme for SRC back-up supply.<br />
Problems found<br />
• Designer/ESCo folded before project completion.<br />
• Major problems with fuel supply – fuel very poor quality –<br />
caused regular blockages in augers ,stopping boiler.<br />
Nails etc. from pallets cause damage in boiler grate.<br />
• After 3 – 4 years major leaks from DH network. All u/g<br />
joints faulty as MS bolts used rather than SS bolts.<br />
• 240 new joints fitted costing approx. £40,000<br />
• <strong>Biomass</strong> system removed completely in 2010<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 4
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
<strong>Lochgilphead</strong> <strong>Biomass</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong>………………….Still Going<br />
• Fyne Homes HA 2002 development of 51 houses.<br />
• Designed, installed, plus O & M by Torren Energy ESCo.<br />
• 460 kw LAKA biomass boiler, with 35 M3 chip store &<br />
ground level chip blower, plus 300kw oil back-up boiler<br />
• Woodfuel supply & delivery from Our Power, Cairndow<br />
• Wins best project @ 2003 Scottish Green Energy Awards.<br />
Problems found<br />
• Torren Energy ESCo folded just after project completion.<br />
• No woodfuel supply for 8 months – running on oil boiler –<br />
Vital Energi agrees to support system as an ESCo, but<br />
with certain risks and costs transfer to Fyne Homes HA.<br />
• New smart card pre-payment system needed for tenants<br />
• 2006 – Disaster! Network now leaking up to 9.000<br />
litres/day. Joints faulty as MS bolts used and not SS bolts.<br />
360 new joints and new circuit valves fitted.<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 5
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Design Considerations………Pieces of the <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong> Jigsaw<br />
Project Facilitation<br />
• Promotion and awareness raising (Demonstration site visits)<br />
• Technical Advice<br />
• Feasibility Studies<br />
• Funding and Financing<br />
<strong>Heating</strong> Equipment • Project Manager<br />
• Architect, Scheme design (Mechanical & Electrical)<br />
• Boilerhouse/Storage facility builder or manufacture<br />
• Boiler importers and manufacturers (plus ancilliary equipment)<br />
• Specialist installation teams (eg. DH network, HIU installers)<br />
Fuel Supply<br />
Operation and<br />
Maintenance<br />
• Forestry/Woodland/sawmill/farm/wood recovery/pellet makers<br />
• Fuel processing (chipping, drying, pelletising)<br />
• Bulk transport<br />
• Bulk storage<br />
• Local delivery<br />
• Metering and Billing<br />
• Annual Servicing<br />
• Parts, Supply and Troubleshooting<br />
• On- site maintenance<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 6
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Design Considerations<br />
Fitting the Pieces of<br />
the Jigsaw together<br />
Publication –<br />
Woodfuel for Warmth<br />
Report on the issues surrounding the<br />
use of woodfuel for heat in Scotland<br />
Source -<br />
Sustainable Dev. Commission<br />
www.sd-commission.org.uk.<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 7
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
Some Conclusions<br />
• Woodfuel supply chain is still sparse & entails high transport cost<br />
• Issues if moisture cont. is high - emissions, low temp. chip removal<br />
• Need to improve supply chain infrastructure – storage & drying<br />
• Boiler spec should reflect quality of local biomass supply.<br />
• Poor design – the sum may not be as good as the parts<br />
• Evaluate existing installations to see what works. (and what doesn’t !)<br />
• Despite these caveats the future for biomass community energy is<br />
Beginning to burn a little brighter…… brighter……..<br />
..<br />
FIRE<br />
…but but yet to set SCOTLAND on FIRE<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 8
Barriers to the Deployment of <strong>District</strong> <strong>Heating</strong><br />
THANK<br />
S<br />
FOLKS<br />
13.11.12 Lessons from the Past 9
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