Whitegates District Heating Scheme, Lochgilphead, Scotland.

Situated in the Scottish town of Lochgilphead, this recent development of 51 houses was completed by the local housing association, Fyne Homes. In addition to 51 new homes, this residential development also includes –

• Design, supply and installation of a wood-chip heating system
• Installation of the underground district heating mains
• Supply of an end-user heating cabinet in each dwelling with individual ultra-sonic heat metering
• Under-floor heating in the homes

The district heating scheme was developed by local wood-fuel energy services company (ESCO), Torren Energy Limited, which is also responsible for the management and operation of the scheme.

The householders are billed quarterly for their heat consumption for space heating and domestic hot water. Each house is individually metered. The responsibility for servicing and maintenance of the wood-chip heating system is included in the Heat Supply Contract.

This award-winning scheme has a central boiler house with one 460 kW wood-chip boiler and one 300 kW back-up oil-fired boiler. The back-up oil-fired boiler is automatically controlled to operate if required.

This project is important for two reasons: there is no tradition of district heating in Scotland, so this project demonstrates the principle of all the neighbours sharing one heating system. Secondly, there is no other wood-fuel heating district heating scheme in Scotland, so this demonstrates a “new” fuel being used in a new way.