Luxury Scottish resort benefits from biomass and LPG heating

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club has reduced its emissions and energy costs, after swapping its oil-fired heating system for a bespoke biomass and LPG heating solution from Flogas

Previously known as the Hilton Hotel in Royal Deeside, the Craigendarroch-based resort has recently been renovated into a Hilton Grand Vacations Club property.

As part of this refurbishment, the club’s management team made the decision to replace its kerosene-fired heating system, which was using over 200,000 litres of oil annually.

Following an investigation into biomass as a potential new fuel source, the club approached Flogas for a bespoke heating solution.

Biomass heating from Flogas

After assessing the site’s heating requirements, Flogas specified a bespoke solution for installation on the site of the old kerosene oil tanks. Designed to provide energy efficient heating and hot water to the resort’s facilities and guest suites, the system comprises a 199kW biomass boiler, which is wood-pellet fired.

A 3,000L buffer tank, pellet storage and chimney stack were fitted as part of the biomass system; three existing boilers were also converted to LPG to provide back-up for the system during peak season.

The biomass system makes use of insulated pipes to transport hot water to a plant room, which is based approximately 70 metres away in the resort’s main building.

Sensors have been fitted in the biomass pellet silo to alert Flogas when the supply drops below a certain level; the company’s automatic biomass fuel supply service will then deliver additional fuel. Similarly, the LPG tanks are refuelled regularly by Flogas’ national delivery network.

Carbon savings with biomass

The system has projected annual carbon savings of over 65%; the change from oil to biomass and LPG is predicted to save the resort around 400 tonnes of CO₂ per annum.

The new system is also eligible for support under the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which will provide the club with quarterly, inflation-linked payments over the next two decades.