THE WOOD-HEATING SYSTEM AT LLANDYSUL LEISURE CENTRE

The opening of the new Leisure Centre at Llandysul, West Wales, in September 2002, marked the completion of Ceredigion County Council’s ten-year development programme for indoor sports-and-recreation facilities. The event also marked the beginning of the Council’s latest and most ambitious commitment to promoting sustainable development in line with its energy policy. Approval to back the installation of a wood-heating system followed the initiative to undertake a feasibility study by the Council’s Property Management and Projects Group within the Highways Property and Works Department.

Two 130-kW Passat Compact C11-600, fully automatic, wood-fuelled boilers provide heating for the Council’s new Leisure Centre and its adjacent 1960s swimming-pool, which is run by a voluntary association. Running-costs are shared between the owners of both buildings, under an energy-partnership agreement.

Wood-pellet fuel was chosen because of its clean and consistent properties. Deliveries of pellets are made every two weeks in winter, and once a month in summer. A small transport-tanker loads the pellets into two 27-m3 storage-silos. Screw-feeders carry the pellets to the fully automatic boilers. Small quantities of clean ash are produced by the boilers, and are spread on local gardens. The swimming pool’s existing oil-fired boiler has been retained as a standby, back-up system in case of an emergency.

The heating-system was designed and developed by the Council’s own Building Engineering Services Team in partnership with Welsh Biofuels, which is also contracted to provide the wood-pellets. The cost of the hardware (including installation) was in the region of £100,000, which is approximately 7 per cent of the total cost of the project. Grant-support for the project came from Sportslot, the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme in Wales (Enfys), and the Welsh Development Agency.

The annual fuel-consumption of wood-pellets is about 800 tonnes. An annual saving of approximately 12,500 kg of fossil CO2 will be made. An agreement with the supplier of fuel ensures that the cost is at least 10 per cent less than the price of oil. Maintenance of the boilers and plant is in the region of £500 per annum.

Studies of the feasibility of sustainable-projects form a major part of the Council’s energy policy. Potential partnerships and grant-support are currently being investigated in the hope that a second biomass scheme can be brought on line shortly.

Key facts about the installation at Llandysul Leisure Centre and swimming pool.

Description of plant

• Two 130 kW Passat Energy “Compact C11 – 600” fully automatic wood fuelled boilers.
• Self-feeding from two storage silos.
• Self-starting with sensors that detect the outside temperature.

Boiler Capacity

• 2 no. 130 kW boilers (Total 260 kW)

Wood-fuel

• Wood-pellets

Size of fuel storage

• 2 no. 27m3 silos

Annual consumption of wood fuels

• Approximately 800 tonnes

Supplied buildings

• Leisure Centre and swimming pool
• Leisure Centre’s area 1,067 m²
• Swimming pool area 665 m²
• Heat for pool water (600 m³)

Maximum heat load of the building

• 260 kW

Annual primary energy demand in kWh: i.e. number of hours x average heat load

• The energy required to heat the building in a year is estimated at approximately 600 MWh.

Year of start-up

• 2002

Further details

• Supplementary heat is provided through a fresh-air heat-exchange system.

Investment costs

Contact

Boiler Room Contractor
Welsh Biofuels
Unit 28
Brymen Industrial Estate
Brymenyn
Bridgend
CF32 9TZ
Tel: 01656 729714