ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Even so, the research noted that many customers had initially underestimated the time involved in researching the options and overseeing the procurement and installation. “We strongly advise potential customers to do their homework before simply choosing the first product they see,” Mike says. “There is a growing variety of appliances on the market and it really helps to talk to a number of installers and to existing users who have experience. We also recommend visiting a couple of installations if possible.”
LESSON 2 - LARGER PUBLIC SECTOR SITES TEND TO WORK LESS WELL It is probably fair to say that the current opinion of wood heating amongst many public bodies is that it is too risky and best avoided. This opinion is based on some very negative experiences across the UK, and Wales is no exception. A significant proportion of the lessons learnt from the WEBS research focus on these larger public sector sites, even though these represent less than 10% of the number of schemes supported by the
install wood heating may be made at the level of a Health Trust or Local Education Authority, or by the lead contractor in a new build scheme. However, day to day responsibility for operation will be down to site staff and local management. If site staff are not enthusiastic about wood heating, then it is highly likely that the installation will be switched off at the first opportunity – often to be left switched off indefinitely.
“It is highly risky to install a wood heating system if no effort is made to appoint a champion and enthusiast to operate the system on a day to day basis,” Mike says. “It was evident to us that those public sector schemes which do work well usually have such a champion either on site or closely involved.”
Ensure good lines of communication in design teams
As in any major project, clear lines of communication between the parties involved in the planning and design of a wood fuel scheme is essential. In larger schemes, these parties can be numerous – for example, they could include a European boiler supplier, a UK based
ONS LEARNT FROM N WALES
scheme. “It’s important to note that there are many successful public sector schemes working quietly and reliably in schools and office buildings across Wales,” says Mike.
“However, there are some flagship sites that appear to have run aground, and bad news always travels faster than good.”
The WEBS team was therefore particularly keen to understand the issues affecting larger public sector sites and asked the researchers to delve more deeply into why a number of these had experienced problems.
The report identified a number of common factors, and advised that any similar schemes address carefully the following recommendations:
Bring the end user on board The difference between many public sector and private sector sites is that, for the former, the “client” is often not the end user and operator. In the public sector, the decision to
installer, local building and plumbing sub- contractors and various design professionals such as mechanical engineers and architects.
These parties are all engaged to some degree in the planning and design of the system and a lack of communication between them will almost certainly lead to problems. The research showed that there can often be confusion as to the roles and responsibilities of each party and also disparate ranges of knowledge. “Good communication and clear lines of responsibility and accountability in the team are critical, not only to ensure good design and execution but also to avoid post-installation disputes,” observes Mike.
Seek expert advice on boiler sizing and system integration Accurately sizing and specifying biomass heating systems requires specialist knowledge. The need for such expertise is even more acute where a biomass boiler is being integrated with other innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, such as gas
SUSTAINABLE FM | MARCH 2011
CHP in low energy buildings. Many of the problems at the larger sites were due to poor design with examples of both under-sizing and over- sizing by quite large margins resulting in poor boiler performance.
Manage the commissioning phase fully The hand-over and commissioning of a large wood boiler is rarely a smooth process, and can involve a number of attempts. It requires the close co-operation of the installer, the wood boiler manufacturer, the main contractors plus any sub contractors, the fuel supplier and the client who will be responsible for operating the system.
“In our research, we noted a lack of focus on the commissioning phase, with insufficient time allocated to get the boiler set up and many of the parties who should have been involved being unaware of their role,” says Mike.
The research also found that the costs of completing this task were often not effectively covered in the contract sum. “Overall, this stage of the process was not properly anticipated or planned for, which is a great shame as it should be a highlight for the client, not a headache!” adds Mike.
Managed woodland
Cont.
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