Blencathra Field Study Centre's biomass boiler a big winner!
The Blencathra Field Study Centre's biomass boiler has already produced an annual fuel saving of £58,000. The Centre, set in an idyllic location in Cumbria Accommodates more than 18,000 overnight guests annually as well as day visitors and conference delegates. The leading education and environmental centre near Keswick required a new, sustainable and efficient heating and hot water system to achieve true sustainability and accomplish major cost efficiencies. Barden Energy was appointed to the task by the Field Studies Council, which owns the Lake District site, following the submission of its innovative tender proposal.The brief was: To design and build a discreet boiler house and fuel store on the periphery of the property to minimise disruption during construction as well as future fuel deliveries. To install and commission a biomass boiler with the capability of meeting all heating and hot water needs for the busy centre.The solution: Utilising years of technical know-how and expertise, the team at Barden Energy installed a cutting edge 300Kw Hertz Firematic biomass boiler along with 80 meters of district heat pipe. We were able to use the clients preferred location for the boiler house and store which was on the peripheral of the site on an area of steeply banked ground near to a narrow entrance road by using a reinforced concrete structure to maintain stability of the road aboveTim Foster Head FSC, Blencathra Field Study Centre SAID “The Renewable Energy Project has created an opportunity for us to lead the way in multiple renewable technologies, reducing the carbon footprint of the Centre and to become a low carbon exemplar within the Lake District National Park. A key part of this is our excellent biomass boiler and district heating system.”The Field Studies Council, FSC, is the only environmental education charity dedicated solely to providing informative and enjoyable opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to discover, explore, be inspired by, and understand the natural environment. Established in 1943, FSC has become internationally respected for its national network of learning locations, international outreach training projects, research programmes, information and publication services, and wide range of professional training and leisure coursesDATAPrevious system: Oil, electric and LPGBiomass boiler installed Hertz Firematic 300 kwPayback 5 YearsAnnual savingsAnnual carbon saving 200 tonnesYearly fuel saving £18,000RHI payment £40,000Total annual saving £58,000The Centre also takes sustainable electricity local hydro-electric sourcehttp://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/blencathra.aspx