Biomass roll-out for 12 Council properties across the region

In 2014, North Ayrshire Council embarked upon an ambitious biomass roll-out programme involving biomass installations at 12 sites to replace outdated oil, gas and coal-fired heating systems. HWEnergy were awarded the contract for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and operation of the biomass systems, including the provision of metered heat until 2021.

The move will save 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum (the equivalent of 8 million car miles), and attract significant financial cost savings linked to Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments. The RHI will be in the region of £275k per annum across all properties for a period of 20 years. Overall payback for the new systems is expected to be seven years. The new biomass boilers provide heat and hot water to the following North Ayrshire Council properties: Abbey Primary School, Beith Primary School, Caledonia Primary School, Cumbrae Primary School, Dalry Primary School, Glencairn Primary School, Irvine Royal Academy, Kilwinning Academy, Lamlash Primary School, Skelmorlie Primary School, Woodlands Primary School, and Arran Outdoor Centre.

Facts and figures

North Ayrshire Council

Project scope:

System &solution:

Fuel type:

Fuel demand:

Fuel delivery method:

CO2 savings:

Projectfinancials:

RHI income:

To deliver cost and CO2 savings by replacing inefficient oil, gas and coal fired heating with new biomass systems.

Biomass boiler sizes ranging from 90kW to 1MW installed in pre-packaged Biomass Heat Cabins or within existing buildings.

Wood chip and pellet.

2,800 tonnes per annum.

Blown and tipped wood chips and blown pellets.

2,000 tonnes per annum.

5% saving against fossil fuels. 7 years to payback.

£275,000 per annum.

Project details

The biomass boilers provide heat and hot water to the sites and have replaced outdated heating systems, including coal-fired boilers at Skelmorlie Primary School and Kilwinning Academy. The boilers installed deliver more than 3MW of installed capacity and range in size from a 90kW boiler at Lamlash Primary School to a 1MW system at Irvine Royal Academy.

Solutions at six of the sites involved installing pre-fabricated Biomass Heat Cabins which were built off site and pre-equipped with boiler, fuel store and all necessary monitoring and M&E equipment. HWEnergy’s Heat Cabins are configured to be essentially ‘plug and play’ meaning they can be moved, re-sited and reconfigured as required, providing a level of future proofing for the Client.

The wood fuel used in this contract is sourced locally in the North Ayrshire region, helping to support the local economy.

The team at HWEnergy are managing the installations under a six year Heat Supply contract which includes all fuel provision and routine checks, planned maintenance and emergency response required for the sites, and a three year parts and labour full system warranty. The Council is charged for this service at an agreed price per kWh and it is also backed by performance guarantees, giving the Client peace of mind.

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HWEnergy, Lochaber Rural Complex

Torlundy, Fort William, PH33 6SQ

T: 01397 706412

F: 01397 708412

info@hwenergy.co.uk

hwenergy.co.uk

“We need to invest in the future by being sustainable in our energy consumption. By making the switch to biomass heat we are supporting the local economy, reducing our carbon emissions and saving money against previous heat sources.

It is particularly heartening to see that Skelmorlie Primary School and Kilwinning Academy are no longer reliant on coal for their heat.”

Sandra Taylor, Regeneration Planning Officer, North Ayrshire Council

“We are delighted to be working with such a forward thinking organisation as North Ayrshire Council. If every Council takes the step to move away from fossil fuels then it will be entirely possible to achieve the vision of turning Scotland into a low-carbon economy and help to preserve our environment for the future.”

Bruno Berardelli, Managing Director of HWEnergy