wood heat and energy in rural wales€¦ · biomass vs.fossil fuel low heat load high size large (1...
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www.adas.co.uk
Wood heat and energy in rural Wales
Dr Rebecca HeatonSenior Renewable Energy
Consultant
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UK CO2 Targets Firm Government commitment -
UK Climate Change programme
Legally binding Kyoto GHG reduction target of 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012
Tougher domestic goal of reducing C02 emissions by 20% by 2010
Energy White Paper – 60% reduction by 2050
Other1%
Industrial Processes
20%
Transport32%
Buildings47%
UK Total CO2 Emissions473 Million Tonnes
Main policy drivers:
The Climate Change Levy – a tax on energy used by industry, commerce and public sector 0.43 p (0.57 €) per kWh electricity (day and night) 0.15 p (0.20 €) per kWh gas and coal 0.07 p (0.09 €) per kWh LPG
Renewable Obligation – requires an electricity supplier to demonstrate it has purchased a % of electricity from renewable sources – 5.5% in 2005/06, rising to 15.4% in 2015/16
Other instruments and regulations
Renewable heat obligation?
Wales – Technical Advice Note 8 - Planning policy guidance for renewables
Other incentives - grants
Enhanced Capital Allowance – 100% tax rebate on accredited technology
Capital grants for heat, CHP, electricity from various streams
Capital grants in Wales for wood systems
Fuel Diversity
& Security
Climate ChangeEconomic Growth
Sustainability
Rural Energy Provision
Create higher quality jobsJob retention
Income generationGrowth of SME’s
Rural diversificationHalt rural migration
Overview of current situation - Wales
Biomass heating has established a market presence
Small scale biomass CHP – no examples as yet
Large scale CHP and electricity – none operating but plants in development stage
Pellet stove at West Wales Eco-Centre
Current situation - fuel sources
Fuel being used in Wales: Forestry small roundwood Thinnings – conifer and broadleaf Clean wood waste Pellets
Fuel being used in UK and considered for Wales: Dedicated energy crops Straw
Fuel supply chains
This is a very new market for Welsh forestry
Only a few suppliers in Wales –but this market is expanding
One instance of self supply from under-managed woodlands
Prices approx. £45 to £100 odt depending on contract (60 € to 150 €)
Wood chip store at Llanwyddn. Source:DULAS
Where is biomass heating economic?
What is the impact of scale? How important is heat load? How do costs compare with
fossil fuels (LPG, mains gas and oil)
Generalised capital costs of heat installations
Capital costs greater than fossil fuel systems -by up to ten times
Existing installations are grant aided
BUT costs are expected to come down
£0
£100
£200
150 kW 320 kW 1 MW
Economies of scale - £/kW installed
Running costs: biomass vs.fossil fuel
Low Heat load High
SizeLarge
(1 MW)
Medium(320 kW)
Small(150 kW)
Domestic installation –stoves and boilers All advanced technology -
predominantly imported from Europe In excess of 15 pellet stove
installations heating room spaces UK wide grant scheme of £600 towards
the costs of £2000 Total of 6 log boilers and approx. 10
pellet boilers Capital costs vary from log burners at
£3000 to pellet boilers at about £10000. This compares to an oil boiler of around £2000
Pellet stove at Clynfyw
Biomass heating in public buildings
Government bodies are leading the way in Wales
Primarily County Councils, but also Forestry Commission and the new Welsh Assembly building
Initial installations were running on pellets, with prices tracked to oil prices
As confidence has grown there is a move towards chip installations, again supplied by an ESCO
Llanwddyn School and Village, 520 kW. Source:DULAS
Public buildings overview
In excess of 10 installations, primarily in the south of the country
Generally large scale (>250 kW) but range from 35 kw to 640 kw
Some smaller installations for demonstration proposes- more marginal economically
Total installed capacity of about 2MW
Forestry Commission - Nant-yr-arian – 35kW
Biomass heating and SME’s
Centres where there is a positive benefit in demonstrating to the public e.g:
Clynfyw Countryside Centre Centre for Alternative
TechnologyAre all small scale, less than 100
kW
42 kW pellet boiler at Clynfyw
SME Installations using wood waste
Five installations using wood waste generated on site
Varying from size from 50 to 500 kW.
Generally all the same technology supplier – Talbotts UK Ltd
Simple feed systems – some hand-fed
What makes it work - heatA combination of factors: Off mains gas-grid areas High and consistent heat
load Larger scale installations 50% capital grant helps Stand alone rather than
district heating systemsView inside a biomass boiler. Source:Talbotts
Electricity – small scale CHP
None in Wales Two examples in the UK–
Bedzed in Surrey, England Harper Adams Agricultural
College, Shropshire, England Several about to be installed
in the UK - using a UK Manufacturer (Talbotts) new hot air turbine technology
Small-medium scale CHP –why isn’t happening?
Capital costs per kW installed are high: 1 MW: £1400 100 kW: £2500
High capital costs result in high debt repayments Electrical connection costs are also high Technology not readily available No examples
Successful CHP needs:
Low wood fuel costs Low priced grid connections Off gas areas High heat loads Scale - 1MW more economic
than 100 kW BUT dependant on grid connection and fuel transport costs
Planning regulations favouring renewables
CHP in the future?
Higher and consistent ROC prices Reduced capital costs, particularly
at 100 kW Electrical connection costs reduced More experience and examples at
all scales Go large?
Large scale CHP
None operating in the UK – but several planned for UK and Wales.
South Wales: 10 MWe Western Log 10 MWe Green Renewable Energy
Company 5 MWe Bluestone Holiday park
Image of proposed 10 MWe Green Renewable Energy Power plant. Source: REA
Summary: Where does biomass work in Wales?
A passion for wood energy and willingness to take it on!
CHP/Heat only: High heat loads High heat prices – off mains gasCHP: When competing against other renewables Where fuel is low cost - low transport costs and use of
woody wasteThis is a good fit with the rural sector
Making it happen
Capital grants for installationCapital grants for fuel supply equipment (chippers
etc)Promotion campaignDemonstration projectsTraining and advice
Renewable Heat Obligation – premium for renewable heat
Increase confidence in fuel supply
Biomass – a developing industry for Wales • Heat market is present at all
scales, and increasing fast
• CHP is in development stage –but plants expected to come on line soon
• Environmental benefits of management of existing forests
• Income for rural economies
• Will help to meet climate change targets