REAL PROJECT BIOMASS HEATING PROJECT

01 TWO SCHOOLS / HEREFODSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM

RESULTS
Weobley School, near Birmingham, was the first school in the United Kingdom to have a purpose-
built wood-fired heating system. A hot water loop permits the biomass system in this primary school
to heat the adjacent secondary school; the oil-fired boiler in the secondary school is used for peaking
and back-up heat. The system went on-line in April of 1998.
In 1998 the school won the inaugural “Built Environment Innovation Award” of the UK National
Engineering Council. The school was designed for the Hereford and Worcester Council by ESD Ltd.
The boiler system was supplied by Nordist and installed by Dantrim Ltd. It has been fuelled with
wood chips produced from a local wood yard and woodland thinnings; in the future chips will be
available from a nearby dedicated short rotation coppice plantation. The wood supply process has
generated the equivalent of one full-time job.
The initiative for the Weobley school project stems from the Hereford and Worcester County
Council’s progressive policy of improving the energy efficiency of their buildings and investing in
sustainable technologies. Weobley School is expected to encourage more wood-fired heating systems
in the area. The European Commission provided supplementary capital for this project.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The Weobley School wood-fired heating system was installed over the winter of 1997-1998. A 350
kW wood-fired boiler meets the primary school's base load heating needs, as well as those of the
secondary school on the adjoining site. An oil-fired 750 kW system sited in the secondary school
provides back-up and peaking power. During most weather conditions the biomass boiler is able to
heat both schools without back-up from the oil-fired boiler. The oil-fired boiler at the secondary
school is required to meet the load of both schools when the wood-burning boiler is unavailable.
The primary school has a maximum design heat load of 115 kW. The primary school uses an
underfloor heating system.
Weobley School is supplied with about 300 tonnes of locally-grown dry wood chips per year. On
arrival at the school, the chips are stored in a concrete silo built to receive the twice-weekly
deliveries.
 REAL PROJECT BIOMASS HEATING PROJECT

01 TWO SCHOOLS / HEREFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM

LESSONS LEARNED
• The small amount of ash produced by combustion and by the exhaust gas cleaning process can be collected in an ash bin for use
as fertiliser on the school garden.
• Renewable energy systems that are installed in educational buildings not only supply energy, but can help students understand
energy issues and may raise awareness of environmental concerns.

THE BIG PICTURE

Using wood from a plantation to provide heat through a biomass system makes environmental and financial sense. Because the wood
used by the system is grown sustainably, the system is carbon-neutral and does not contribute to global warming. Biomass heating
systems generate a market for fuel that can be supplied locally, creating employment in the community. The cost of fossil fuels is
expected to rise, while wood fuel costs will likely fall, resulting in increased cost savings.

REFERENCES
Department of Trade & Industry (UK),
website: http://www.dti.gov.uk/New
Review/nr37/html/back_page.html.
Iain, Paul, “Personal communication,”
Worcestershire County Council, 2000.
Ziegler, Urban, “Personal communication,”
PEMtec, 2000.

THE WEOBLEY SCHOOL BOILER – AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL

PHOTO CREDIT: DEPARTMENT OF TRADE & INDUSTRY (UK)