Biomass woodchip boiler specified for Leicestershire College

Summary

The benefits of the 800kw Herz Biofire woodchip boiler installation at John Cleveland College include:

• Up to £45,000 per year savings in fuel and maintenance costs
• Eligible to claim quarterly income from Commercial RHI
• Reduce the college’s carbon emissions by approximately 250 tonnes annually

The project

Rural Energy was responsible for the project, including the development of an effective fuel storage and delivery system. This consisted of a pre-fabricated octagonal wood fuel hopper, located outside the plant room with an auger to transport fuel into the boiler.

A vertical elevator fuel delivery system was also installed, with a trough for tipped wood chip deliveries. Furthermore, private access road was constructed to minimise disruption to pupils and staff on site and to avoid any potential hazards caused by fuel delivery lorries.

The Herz BioFire is specifically designed for large-scale applications with high heating needs. It features a stepped grate system, ensuring the fuel is dried out to optimum levels before reaching the combustion allowing flexibility for burning different fuel types.

Paul Craven, the Principal of John Cleveland College, commented: “The support and technical expertise we received from Rural Energy during the planning and installation process has been second to none and we have every confidence that the new system will deliver the efficient and sustainable solution we had hoped for.

“I am proud that we are actively reducing the carbon footprint of the college by introducing this technology, which also provides an excellent opportunity for the students to study the science of renewable energy in more detail.”

Community funded

In 2013, the college set up the John Cleveland College Community Woodheat Co-operative in partnership with Green Fox Community Energy Co-operative, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to facilitate deployment of community owned renewable energy.

The cooperative invited investment from around the country, with 50% of funding for the project sourced locally from within Leicestershire.

The John Cleveland College Community Woodheat Co-operative raised almost £600,000 to support the purchase and installation of the 800kW Herz biomass boiler. With the heating now provided by cost effective and renewable wood chips, the college is much better protected against fluctuating fuel prices.