Energy Minister Lays Foundation For Carbon Neutral Heating System

During 2011, Camphill Community Glencraig successfully completed a large wood biomass district heating system. Camphill Communities are pioneering communities in the field of social renewal and sustainability together with people with a learning disability. The sustainable, caring, life-sharing approach enables children, young adults and adults with and without learning disability to live learn and work together in an extended family type setting. Camphill Community Glencraig near Holywood, County Down, was the only project in Northern Ireland to successfully meet the Low Carbon Communities Challenge from DECC, an initiative designed to provide funding for 22 testbed communities within England Wales and Northern Ireland. With the community facing concerns about the use of 230,000 – 250,000 litres of heating oil each year, at increasing oil cost, not to mention carbon emissions of 600 – 700 tons per annum, an Urbas Biomass Boiler, complete with purpose-built boiler-house and store, looked set to provide the perfect solution. After receiving its funding, Camphill Community Glencraig commenced work on its pioneering heating system in December 2010, with the installation finally finished in May 2011, with a total project cost of £650,000. With an output of 1MW, the biomass boiler utilises low grade wood biomass containing up to 65% moisture.

Wood used during the assessment period came from a variety of sources, including on-site coppice and hedge clippings, virgin wood waste from local tree surgeons, butt chip and high bark content chip from local sawmills, and high grade G 50 wood chip – a sum of 768 wet tons of wood. A total 3.2 km of pipe was installed – high density foam pre-insulated steel pipe with leak detection system, with 22 heat transfer stations supplying 27 units. Energy Minister Arlene Foster stated: “Camphill Communities have already shown that they lead the field in using sustainable energy by installing a biomass heating system at their Clanabogan community near Omagh in 1998.

Assessment Period: 1 Jun 2011 – 1 Feb 2012
Results After 9 Months:
MW units of heat consumed: 1,342
Equivalent litres of oil: 170,315
Equivalent oil cost @ £0.58 / litre: £98,782
Biomass costs:
Total wood biomass cost: £26,825
Staff and maintenance cost allowance: £10,000
Savings Over 9 Months:
Savings against oil during the period: £61,958
Carbon saved during the period: 420 tons

“Using the latest technology capable of burning biomass from managed woodland, as well as wood from within the Community, this new innovative renewable heating system will provide the residents with an affordable energy supply. Not only will it help to reduce bills, lower the dependence on fossil fuels and significantly reduce carbon emissions, but it will also contribute towards Northern Ireland’s 10% renewable heat target.” There are three other Camphill Communities in Northern Ireland in addition to Camphill Community Glencraig:
Camphill Community Mourne Grange (near Kilkeel, County Down) is a life-sharing community of around 130 people providing support and care under the supporting people programme for adults with a learning disability. The view onto the Mourne Mountains and walking distance to Kilkeel gives it a unique character. The public craft and coffee shop, health and therapy center, wood workshop, weavery, farm and garden are some of the many activities at Mourne Grange.

Camphill Community Clanabogan (near Omagh, County Tyrone) Clanabogan, just outside the town of Omagh, lies on a farm of 150 acres and comprises a community of around 90 people. The fully demeter-certified biodynamic farm is a social care farm that not only provides therapeutic work for adults with a learning disability, but is also extensively used as a training facility by the South-west colleges. Camphill Community Holywood (in Holywood, County Down) is a small urban community for adults with a learning disability in the town of Holywood which runs an award-winning bakery, restaurant, coffee shop with organic food outlet.