District Heating Systems - Energy Innovations

Energy Innovations regularly install mini district heating networks in order to allow the high capital cost of this equipment to be spread across a number of properties. These are usually owned by one land lord, but it is becoming more common to provide a network to heat a number of properties under separate ownership.

Why are biomass boilers often linked to district heating systems?

• High capital cost of biomass heating plant can be spread across larger number of properties, increasing annual heat load and so savings made, therefore reducing payback.
• Fuel storage element of biomass heating can be difficult to integrate, therefore a central boiler plant allows smaller properties to be linked to this technology.
• In some circumstances it may be necessary, due to fuel delivery constraints, planning constraints, or aesthetic reasons, to house boiler plant away from the buildings to be heated.
• The economics of woodchip heating are such that boiler plant and district heating networks can be paid back relatively quickly, allowing profits to be made from the sale of heat to end users. These setups are known as energy supply contracts.

Heat Exchangers

Heat exchangers are often used to provide an indirect link from the district heat system to the property to be heated. This ensures that any problems that may occur in the existing heating system in the property do not affect the district heating system or any of the other properties.