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District Heating Systems
District heating uses a single boiler to provide heat for a number of properties. Using a biomass boiler, often in conjunction with solar thermal augmentation, means that the true benefits of biomass can be realised. On the scale of a district heating system, the price difference between wood and fossil fuels is more pronounced making it more financially attractive.
Although the initial investment of a district heating system can be rather high, it is usually set up either as a cooperative venture by a community or as part of a new build project. Obviously, by the term 'district' it means that this system is for more than one house, so the effective cost of set up would be divided between the houses to be served by the system.
The district heating system consists of three main components:
- A central boiler, which heats the water. Often combined with solar thermal heating to keep the temperature up without having to run the boiler constantly.
- A series of underground pipes, the 'heat main'. These run past each property to be heated in a loop, so the water in the main is returned to the boiler. From the main an offshoot connects to each property.
- Heat exchangers are fitted in each property and connected to the heat main. This means that the water in the heat main stays in the main, but the heat is taken from the main and transferred into the heating systems within individual properties.
Each property will have an individual meter which will monitor the heat used for individual billing. The set up cost has to take into account the cost of the large boiler, a building to house it, the pumps and the underground pipes. This does mean that the system is ideally suited to be included in a new build development. It can be economically viable for a district heating system to be installed into an existing community, it is a case of balancing the number of properties to be heated with the size of the system. Because of the low and stable cost of a biomass fuel compared to a fossil fuel there is a greater incentive for larger scale boilers, this can help to make the system a worthwhile project.
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District heating systems are already in use across Europe and have been growing in popularity in the UK. In both rural and urban areas, district heating systems really do have the ability to make whole communities carbon neutral. |
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