Typical features of a Wood-Fired District Heating System

• District heating systems can supply groups of houses and other properties with their heating and hot water requirements via an underground pipe network
• Wood fired schemes can be environmentally friendly and sustainable, with reduced emissions of air pollutants and a long-term fuel supply that does not deplete natural resources
• District heating schemes that link to forestry and wood chipping operations can also provide a source of local employment
• Instead of buying their own oil or solid fuel, homes are fitted with a heat meter (similar to a gas or water meter)
• One advantage of buying heat in this way is that customers do not need to store fuels on site

What kinds of location are suitable for Wood-Fired District Heating?

• Areas which currently rely on fossil fuels for heating dwellings and municipal buildings, because a mixture of types of building helps to create an even heat load throughout the day
• Areas which have access to a plentiful supply of wood, e.g. sites near local forests and managed woodlands
• Wood fired district heating schemes are ideal in areas which are not (or are not likely to be) serviced by mains gas. Wood fuel may be competetive with coal or heating oil, but gas is presently the cheapest fuel where available.

Why is the scheme so important?

• To create the first village biomass district heating scheme
• To reduce energy costs and fossil fuel emissions
• Jobs created/safeguarded
• Supporting the sustainability of Kielder Community Company
• Support sustained forestry through the development/introduction of new income streams
• Assist the development of the market for renewable energy/biomass
• To create a real life demonstration of the benefits of Biomass

What was involved in the Kielder District Heating Scheme?

• Land
• Site investigation
• Pipe network/Heat distribution
• Boiler House Construction
• Fuel Store Construction
• Boiler House Plant (Biomass Boiler & Backup Boiler)
• Heating distribution plant (Heat exchangers etc)
• Wood Chip delivery (Push-off trailer)
• Evaluation
• Fees (Including Supply Agreements)

Kielder has successfully become the first village biomass district heating scheme in England and has actually reduced the energy costs and fossil fuel emissions for Kielder village. Kielder has now become a well known working demonstration site for biomass attracting a large number and variety of visitors from foresters to housing developers.

The Kielder Scheme is actively supporting sustainable forestry by introducing and developing new income streams to the industry. In addition, the Kielder District Heating Scheme represents a key step taken by the region towards the development of the biomass and renewable energy market.

The Köb Boiler House