Biomass Energy Centre & District Heating Scheme

The project timescales were determined by an innovative procurement strategy which involved an OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) notice leading through Pre-Quaification to a 2-stage tender process.  This was comprised of a 12 week preconstruction services agreement before entering into a 12 month construction programme.  The innovative tender, design and construction approach led to a 30% reduction in the project timescales, and ensured savings in floor space.  Equipment specifications were complimented by future proofing the energy centre with space for a CHP and dry air cooler installation.

Collaboration throughout the tender process resulted in a fast track 2nd stage programme and the timely commencement of site construction activities in August 2016 in order to have heat available to the academic and residential buildings to commence commissioning in late 2017.

The timescale of the project proved to be challenging, but as we have one of the largest in-house district heating teams in the UK, we were able to allocate additional labour to the project to ensure we met the University’s heat and power on dates.

We then took over design responsibility from RIBA Stage 3, further developing the energy centre’s architectural, structural, acoustic, mechanical and electrical design.   Our solution reduced the floor plan by 20% and created an alternative, improved layout for the plant and equipment.   The biomass energy centre provides heating and hot water for the academic, residential, and sports buildings and the designers left space for an additional boiler and a Combined Heat & Power engine which will be installed when the increased demand warrants it.

In keeping with their philosophy of creating a campus where people could enjoy working, studying and visiting, the University were keen to make the energy centre an architectural feature of the campus.

The layout of the new equipment over two levels has been designed to maximise efficient use of space and to ensure the ability to carry out maintenance in the safest, most efficient way.  A 1MW biomass boiler, three 4MW gas boilers, one 120m3 thermal storage vessel and associated plant equipment are located on the ground floor. All boiler stacks rise through a common 26m high tower with access provided via a series of cat ladders and platforms located every 3m intervals along its height

We then took over design responsibility from RIBA Stage 3, further developing the energy centre’s architectural, structural, acoustic, mechanical and electrical design.   Our solution reduced the floor plan by 20% and created an alternative, improved layout for the plant and equipment.   The biomass energy centre provides heating and hot water for the academic, residential, and sports buildings and the designers left space for an additional boiler and a Combined Heat & Power engine which will be installed when the increased demand warrants it.

In keeping with their philosophy of creating a campus where people could enjoy working, studying and visiting, the University were keen to make the energy centre an architectural feature of the campus.

The layout of the new equipment over two levels has been designed to maximise efficient use of space and to ensure the ability to carry out maintenance in the safest, most efficient way.  A 1MW biomass boiler, three 4MW gas boilers, one 120m3 thermal storage vessel and associated plant equipment are located on the ground floor. All boiler stacks rise through a common 26m high tower with access provided via a series of cat ladders and platforms located every 3m intervals along its height

The system utilises wood chip to fuel the biomass boiler and gas for the boilers.  This combination provides heating and hot water for all the buildings and student residencies on the site and saves over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year in the short term, rising to 2,200 tons a year following the introduction of a Combined Heat & Power Engine in phase 2.

One other, significant improvement saw our designers develop the biomass storage system, replacing the original two silo design with a single, shorter silo, providing a reduction in capital expenditure.  We then moved the biomass boiler trough’s position in the service yard which enabled fuel delivery vehicles to reverse inside the yard, rather than reversing down the long side road into the service yard.  This reduced potential health and safety issues in addition to speeding up the delivery process.