Energy Centre
650kW Biomass Boiler
Affordable Homes
Wood-chip Fuel
Contract Value: £625,000
Timescale:
Phase 1 - June - Nov 04
Phase 2 - July 06 - Feb 07
Client:
West Highland Housing Asso.
The Glenshellach housing scheme was built by West Highland Housing Association to make a significant contribution towards meeting the need for affordable housing in Oban whilst at the same time providing residents with a reliable and energy efficient form of heating.
"The Association are very happy with the service we have received from Vital Energi on the project. They have played a very important role in the Association reaching its ultimate goal of providing our tenants with a reliable and very efficient heating system. We look forward to the commissioning of this innovative heating system and continuing our good working relationship with Vital Energi."
Gregor Cameron, Development Officer, West Highland Housing Association
The Housing Associations appointed heating contractor withdrew before installation began, leaving the client in an extremely vulnerable situation. Vital Energi was introduced to the Housing Association following a recommendation from the Co-operative Bank plc who havea financial involvement in this scheme.
Vital Energi has played a lead role in the regeneration of this local Scottish community, with the design, manufacture, installation and operation and maintenance of an award winning innovative biomass community heating scheme. This new residential development built over two phases supplies heat and hot water to 90 homes from a clean and efficient communal boiler using wood chips as a renewable energy fuel source. The biomass heat source is supplied through waste wood derived as a biproduct of tree felling and saw milling in Argyll.
The scheme incorporates a state of the art 650kW biomass district heating system designed, installed and operated and maintained by Vital Energi. The whole design-toimplementation project was planned to take place over a 16 week period, however the change of contractors meant deadlines became much tighter and a time-efficient strategy was required. Vital Energi organised for the complete energy centre installation to be manufactured off site as a packaged unit (wood chip boiler, oil fuelled back-up boiler and all associated mechanical and electrical controls). The pre-fabricated and pre-tested unit was lowered into through the top of the energy centre building. The roof was manufactured on-site and assembled the moment the boiler plant was installed to guarantee a secure and watertight facility. The energy centre is located on the Glenshellach estate but is neatly landscaped and blends in with the housing development.
The heating from the boiler plant is distributed to the individual dwellings through a network of through pre-insulated pipes designed, supplied and installed by Vital Energi. The mains infrastructure was also further enhanced by the use of Band Muff fusion welded joints, a system which reduced the number of joints in the network and extended the design lifespan from 30 to 50 years.
The design of the system enables the heat to be delivered and transferred to each residence by means of Vital Aqua Varm hydraulic interface units, which deliver instant and continuous heat and domestic hot water to the dwelling. A heat meter incorporated into the HIU meters the amount of heat taken from the common heating distribution system by each individual dwelling.
The Vital Energi EasiPay pre-payment system is in operation that enables residents to purchase heat credits using swipe card technology. The EasiPay -Card is topped up with heat credits over the counter at the local point of sale. For the residents of the Glenshellach biomass community - this is a petrol station situated close by. This system can help to eliminate fuel poverty for the housing association. Residents favour the system as they can spread the cost of purchasing fuel and easily monitor their consumption of energy. West Highland Association has negotiated a unique operation, administration and maintenance contract with Vital Energi, to ensure that the system operates efficiently. This includes the administration, operation and maintenance of the Energy Centre including wood chip fuelled boiler, the oil fired back up boiler, with all associated equipment inside the boilerhouse, the common heating distribution pipe network and the dwelling internal installation including the HIU, Heat Meter and the EasiPay system.
Vital Energi also maintain surveillance over the whole operation 24 hours a day leaving residents feeling secure and with piece of mind that their heating supply would be swiftly restored in the event of a breakdown.
Conclusion
Biomass community heating systems have a major part to play in tackling climate change and fuel poverty. Through investment in our own infrastructure, people and processes, Vital Energi are leading the way in terms developing and delivering pioneering renewable technology solutions. Glenshellach is a landmark project in renewable energy that is visited regularly by other Housing Associations, who seek to replicate the Glenshellach model in their own developments throughout the UK. Vital Energi are proud to announce this scheme was honoured with an award for Best Renewable Project Award 2006 at the prestigious Scottish Green Energy Awards.
