NaREC using locally sourced woodfuel

NaREC (The New and Renewable Energy Centre) has cut its heating bills by half following installation of a biomass boiler by Wood Energy .

The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) high voltage testing laboratories in Hebburn are now heated by a 500kW Binder boiler, using locally sourced woodfuel.

supplied in standard ISO hook bins.

The laboratories are designed to facilitate generation of high voltages in a controlled environment to test electrical components, typically for utilities companies.

Maintaining a relatively constant temperature in the laboratory is essential for the tests, and biomass has proven itself successfully during the last heating season.

The largest biomass installation in the North East has delivered an impressive drop in energy costs from GBP3,200 to GBP1,400 each month.

The new biomass system replaces a conventional gas boiler to provide heat for the large 40 metre in height testing facility.

The project was far from straightforward but Wood Energy (WEL), the UK and Ireland's leading biomass heating business, advised and supplied NaREC with the appropriate technology.

WEL was keen to take on the challenge of a large-scale installation, which also had to be carried out between testing dates to minimise disruption.

The biomass boiler allows NaREC to eliminate the financial risk of fossil fuel rises and reduce its CO2 emissions by over 700 tonnes per year.

The 500kW boiler is a step-grate boiler, which is designed to run on wet fuels (up to 50% moisture content wood chip) and has been teamed up with a 10,000 litre accumulator which is an essential part of the installed equipment - designed to prolong the life of the boiler and to maximise efficiencies from the system.

The system also allows for remote monitoring and control of the entire system from designated offices around the UK, including NaREC's and WEL'S.

Paul McLean, Group Facilities Manager, says WEL's commitment impressed them.

"The job was not straightforward but Ben Tansey from WEL provided us with solutions.

One of the most challenging aspects was confirming the supply chain for the delivery of woodchip for the boiler and this was something he worked with us on as well.

WEL's understanding of biomass meant potential problems were dealt with before they became an issue.

"We also spent a long time discussing with WEL different types of storage options for the wood chip and they came up with a few designs.

A lot of time was invested in this but fuel supply is critical to the operation and they impressed upon us how an inefficient fuel supply system could prove a costly mistake".

"It is important that we support renewable energies and we want to become an exemplar for biomass in the North East," says Paul McLean.

"We have already had in excess of 300 people visiting the installation, many of whom are interested in investing in biomass".

NaREC is so impressed by biomass technology it is teaming up with The Engineering Support Partnership to create its own energy company to sell biomass heat.

They plan to install boilers for free and charge more on fuel bills to offset the capital costs of installation.

Paul McLean comments: "It makes sense for commercial reasons and helps to promote biomass in the North East.

Investing in biomass was a leap of faith for us but it has definitely paid off".

Ben Tansey of WEL said: "NaREC has been a great client to work with tons of enthusiasm and a 'can do' attitude towards making the project happen.

The installation at the Clothier Lab is great example of how biomass can be retrofitted into existing industrial buildings and demonstrates cost and carbon savings can be achieved on a considerable scale.".

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