Biomass fuel type: Wood chip

Boiler model and output: Herz Firematic 50 kW

Expected annual fuel consumption: Approx. 35 tonnes at 30% moisture content.

Features: Turnkey project, barn converted to energy centre, underground pipework with provision to extend

There were several possible ways to configure a biomass system in Mr Yarrow’s country home in Hertfordshire. After considering the options, he settled on an energy centre (boiler and fuel store) sited in a barn near to the main house.

A wood chip 50 kW Herz Firematic boiler was positioned next to the internally constructed wood chip store, just inside the main barn doors in order to be convenient for deliveries, with a short auger and agitator disc to maintain the flow of wood chips.

Mr Yarrow says: “The system provides heat to the main manor house, (central heating and hot water), to a garden office, and in the summer uses the spare capacity in the boiler to heat the external swimming pool. I can confirm that Rural Energy could not have been more helpful with putting together a detailed and appropriate specification for the full installation. The entire project management was left to Rural Energy on a turnkey basis.”

“Having completed the installation and commissioned the boiler, they helped train me in the boiler's operation and have been proactive in resolving a few minor (and inevitable) teething problems. The boiler is working fully as designed and is proving extremely economical and trouble free.”

A buffer tank was fitted in this case to ensure boiler efficiency was above 90%.