Biomass District Heating
The district heating will deliver renewable heat to individual energy users within the Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone. A District Heating System works like a domestic central heating system, only on a larger scale. Water is heated at the scheme’s energy centre and circulated through an underground pipe network to customers. A heating pipe will run from the energy centre into a building/ home where it is connected to the internal circulation system. District heating supply is reliable due to professional operation and continuous monitoring of heat production and distribution.
The energy centre is to be located within an existing building of the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT). This will be fitted out with equipment to provide energy services in the form of low pressure hot water (LPHW) and electricity to connected users, comprising:
- 4.0MWth woodchip heat only boiler plant
- 10.0MWth natural gas boiler plant (peak loads and full standby capacity)
An ESCo is a company that will design, build, operate and finance the biomass district heating scheme. The capital purchase and operation is to be undertaken by a joint venture partner (ESCo) on a long term contract basis to provide energy services to customers within the energy zone. The joint venture partner will be selected following a public tendering exercise.
During the life of the HOLISTIC project it is intended to appoint the ESCo, install the full project capacity equipment and the district heating network, and have users connected. It is expected that the first heat will be supplied to customers in Spring 2009.
Biomass
The ESCO Action Group are working with local interest groups to develop a local wood fuel supply chain. It is intended to fuel the biomass district heating scheme on wood chip. It is the intention of this project to create a sustainable energy community, hence the need for locally produced biomass fuel as transportation should be minimised where possible.
What are the advantages to being connected to biomass district heating?
- There is an assurance of a consistent and infinite supply of both heat and hot water,
- Internal temperature is electronically controlled, therefore maintaining desired indoor temperature. Temperature can be regulated as as desired
- Hot water is constantly circulating and therefore is available in the tap within seconds.
- Hot water is supplied under higher pressure - this means you can enjoy a ‘power’ shower without having a noisy pump supplying the water under pressure.
- Air is cleaner as there is no flue gases from oil or gas boiler, circulating around the house
- Boilers and hot water storage tanks are not required, so a considerable amount of space is made free for other purposes.
No more worries about making sure there is enough oil in the tank, or services the gas boiler; the district heating system operates a centralised boiler, and it is the operator of the system who must maintain the boilers.
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