A new biomass-to-heat system at Beaufort Hospital in western Victoria hopes to provide a model for similar institutions struggling with energy costs and unable to link with the natural gas grid. Source: The Climate Spectator
A modified shipping container with a wood chip fuelled heating boiler and boiler fuel store inside was lifted into position. The new boiler will provide most of the hospital’s heating needs and significantly reduce heating costs.
The existing LPG boilers will be retained as backup for the wood boiler.
The installation at the rear of the hospital sees piping connecting the boiler to the hospital’s existing heating system.
“The new boiler is a 110kW Hargassner unit built in Austria,” said project manager Daryl Scherger.
“The shipping container boiler house was built in Melbourne and fitted out in Ballarat.
“A number of local tradespeople have gained valuable experience in bioenergy due to the project.
“The installation is part of the Regional Bioenergy Project which has been funded by the Victorian Government under its Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership.
“The aim of the project is to provide a demonstration site for bioenergy. Using bioenergy is common place in Europe but not in Australia.”
The installation will allow the public to view an operating system, see how it works and what bioenergy could do for them.
Woodchips to fuel the boiler will be supplied by a local sawmill.
The wood boiler system is expected to be fully operational by the end of February.
“The boiler house will contain a viewing window and real time information display so anyone can see the system in operation and see how it’s performing at any time.
“Based on its popularity overseas, I expect bioenergy will become much more common in Australia as energy prices rise,” Scherger said.
Biomass-to-heat is the most cost-effective option for many institutions and business that need a supply of heat year-round for washing, kitchens or industry processes.
In most other parts of the world biomass is widely used to fuel such efficient modern systems, but its introduction in Australia has been relatively slow, with advocates criticising effective policy and lack of information.
