Demonstration and Monitoring of Biomass Boiler at Coillte Headquarters
Name of Applicant: Coillte
Grant Award: €91,626
Category: Demonstration
Completion Date: August 2005
Introduction
The state forestry company Coillte recently re-located its corporate headquarters to a 100% sustainable, timber-constructed building at Newtownmountkennedy Co. Wicklow. The installation of wood and solar heating at the new headquarters was supported by the RE RDD programme in 2004.
The new two-storey building of approximately 16,800sq ft was constructed from timber from sustainable sources and is insulated using recycled paper products to levels exceeding current building regulations. The building is designed to encourage natural cross ventilation to avoid the need for mechanical cooling and in addition the high insulation levels ensures very low heat demands.
The primary heat source is from two arrays of solar thermal panels – a flat plate and an evacuated heat tube array. The heat is stored in a large buffer vessel which is topped up as necessary from a wood boiler supplied by Austrian boiler manufacturer, KWB. The boiler has a 100kW capacity and is capable of using either wood pellets or wood chips. The cost and installation of the boiler including automatic fuel supply auger amounted to €27,500. The remaining support from SEI is provided for the solar heating system, monitoring programme and the energy center.
The solar and wood heating systems are located in a purpose-built energy centre which is open to the public. Goals of the project include:
- Demonstrate the first large scale commercial installation of an automatic wood pellet / wood chip fuelled boiler in Ireland.
- Achievement of zero CO2 emissions from space heating and hot water provision.
- Fossil fuel substitution of 400,000kWh per annum.
- CO2 avoidance of 160 tonnes per annum.
- Demonstrate outlet for Irish forestry by-products as a renewable, CO2 neutral fuel source.
- Training of Coillte personnel and Irish wood energy services company in the installation and maintenance of a wood heating system so as to ensure local service.
- Overcome perceived barriers of fuel cost and supply.
Current Status
The installation of the boiler and solar heating systems is complete. The next phase of the project involves monitoring of the performance of boiler and buildings which is due for completion in 2005 after which time a full monitoring report will be made available.
For further information contact:
Aine Carr
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Renewable Energy Information Office
Shinagh House
Bandon
Co. Cork
Tel: 023 29193
e-mail: aine@reio.ie
