ENERGY

BIOMASS HEATING FOR FACILITIES MANAGERS

Tim Rook, Managing Director of Woodpecker Energy UK

H

eat energy is one of the most important parts of a building’s energy make up. Not only is it used in large quantities, but it has a

flexibility and storage potential that power does not have, and in many older buildings there are potentially huge savings to be made. In addition to the introduction of efficiency measures, changing the source of a building’s heat is an excellent opportunity to reduce cost and meet carbon reduction targets. Industry is increasingly being driven to lower the carbon footprint and use of energy, both by fuel costs and by legislation, such as the CRC, and if these are sticks to drive changes then a potential carrot on the horizon is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Under this scheme buildings that use heat from renewable sources can earn a payment per KWh on a 15-year government backed contract designed to give a good return on investment. The details are still under consultation but the scheme is due to go live in April 2011. All this means that a facility manager considering how best to meet energy and regulatory requirements should seriously consider a renewable heat source. Of all the renewables, solid biomass stands out as being particularly attractive to facility managers because it is consistent, reliable, produces heat at similar temperatures to the existing plant and can therefore be integrated with existing heating systems in a straightforward way. Solid biomass, i.e. either wood chip or wood pellet, is a very viable option for many buildings, with the main additional requirement being space for fuel storage. Wood pellets are a carbon-neutral fuel made from compressed wood particles. They have very low moisture and ash content, which results in a clean burn with little residue. Wood chips contain more moisture and are more variable. Wood chip will require more on-site knowledge and management, but can be far cheaper per KWh, thus representing an overall saving for some facilities. Many people would also consider wood chip a “greener” fuel, as less processing is required and it is often produced locally and thus doesn’t have to be transported

22|

SUSTAINABLE FM | APRIL 2010

emissions (including combustion and production), the figure for wood pellets is 15 kg/MWh, while wood chips are responsible for c.7 kg/MWh of CO2

emissions. Biomass plant will generally consist of

a boiler, flue, fuel store and fuel handling system. There is a wide range of biomass heating systems available to suit all budgets and specifications. The boilers are generally heavier than their fossil- fuelled cousins and require automated cleaning systems to ensure the heat exchangers are working efficiently. Most good quality boilers will have sufficient controls on board to be self-lighting, modulating, and can monitor for faults. The flue will have to be designed to meet the requirements of solid fuel, whilst maintaining performance with low flue gas temperatures. At the moment very few solid fuel boilers are condensing, due mainly to the technical difficulties of dealing with the condensate, which would be far more damaging to the boiler’s steel shell and performance than the oil equivalent.

The fuel storage and handling systems that are currently available are varied and there is a solution to meet every demand, from simple hoppers to containerised systems that are automated and require little input on a daily basis from the facility manager. Biomass is delivered to the site,

usually by road transport, and once there it is kept in the main store and then automatically fed into the boiler using augers or vacuum transport systems. Based upon experience, the biggest problems with biomass systems are centred on fuel quality and installation work. Fuel quality can be managed by using reputable suppliers and regularly checking the fuel against the required standard. The Government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which started life as a standard for equipment and installers of domestic-sized equipment, is increasingly being used to select plant and contractors of all sizes. The capital investment required for biomass can be considerable. However when the contribution to meeting carbon targets, the earning potential of the Renewable Heat Incentive and the softer benefits of improved corporate image are taken into consideration, biomass is an extremely attractive option for many buildings and well worth the initial investment.

www.woodpeckerenergy.co.uk

over great distances. Comparing lifecycle CO2 Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36