BIOMASS DISTRICT HEATING SCHEME REVIEW

AMPLEFORTH ABBEY & COLLEGE ESTATES DEPARTMENT

BACKGROUND

d3associates was commissioned by Ampleforth Abbey & College Estate Department to provide a technical review for a proposed 2.2MW biomass district heating scheme.

The Benedictine Community of Ampleforth Abbey, together with the lay staff, run the largest Roman Catholic coeducational independent day and boarding school in England, for pupils between 3-18 years, based in a beautiful valley in North Yorkshire.

The district heating scheme would provide a sustainable source of heating for a range of buildings on the campus including the main school buildings, Monastery, Abbey Church, Theatre and several Boarding Houses, supplying around 65% of the sites overall heating.

OUTCOME

It was proposed that centralised wood chip fired boilers would replace the existing oil fired boilers and provide a maximum predicted 2.2MW total of biomass heat capacity. The oil fired boilers would be retained to provide a back up capability.

The review included consideration of the adopted design principles, heat load profiles, wood fuel options and construction issues. d3associates were also requested to undertake a financial analysis of the proposed scheme, including potential payback under the Renewable Heat Incentive and hold a workshop to inform the Community.

Feasibility work for the scheme was undertaken, along with energy surveys of the existing buildings to consider the potential to reduce the existing heat demand.

d3associates provided a strong team and liaised with the Estate Department and other consultants to ensure that the proposed solutions were technically sound and commercially viable. We continued to work closely with the client in developing the biomass scheme proposals, providing guidance on the adoption of key principles and reviewing design options and financial assessment to take the project forward.