Pitt Farm Cottages
Holiday accommodation business keeps running costs under control with a biomass boiler
Key Facts
Location
Branscombe, Devon
Project included
- Guntamatic 100kW biomass boiler system
- Flue system, thermal store & distribution pipework including internal connections to heat exchangers also included
Fuel consumption
Approximately 37 tonnes of wood chips per annum
Fuel cost saving
Wood chips: 50-80% versus heating oil
CO₂ saving
Approximately 35 tonnes per annum tonnes vs oil
RHI payments
A project of this size would gain approximately £12,000 in RHI payments every year for 20 years, index linked to inflation
Total project cost
£85,000
ROI
5-6 years (combining RHI income & fuel cost saving)
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Overview
A charming group of barn conversions, Pitt Farm Cottages is located in the picturesque coastal village of Branscombe in Devon. It is the idyllic location to enjoy a self catering holiday in an area known for its outstanding natural beauty. Our clients were keen to utilise both RHI payments as well as fuel cost savings as a result of conversion to help improve their profitability. One of the key future requirements was the easy billing of their tenants.
The challenge
Pitt Farm Cottages was keen to convert their system of heating oil to a reliable technology that will offer long term fuel cost savings whilst being able to reap the rewards of RHI payments. The owners at Pitt Farm Cottages were keen to replace their heating system to one that runs on wood chips.
The client wanted to use the fuel cost savings and RHI payments to help improve their profitability. A key future requirement was the easy billing of tenants.
Our custom solution
Working with our partner Wye Valley Energy, Treco installed a 100kW Guntamatic multi fuel biomass boiler, a complete fuel delivery system and a 3,000-litre buffer tank in the plant room as well as a 70m underground heat main. We also ran the heat main to connect all of the buildings included in the district scheme.
In each of the property, a Heat Interface Unit (HIU) was also fitted which offers all of the controls such as a timer, a thermostat and an RHI-compliant heat meter. As there is no combustion occurring at the point of use, the HIUs do not need an annual safety check. The ultrasonic heat meter which has was included in each property forms the basis of easy client billing.
Under our guidance and calculations, Pitt Farm Cottages was responsible for the construction of the boiler house and fuel store.
More details on this specific biomass boiler used on this installation can be found on the Guntamatic Powerchip page, with further details of our entire range available through the biomass boilers page.
The incentive
A 100kW project of this size would expect to receive Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments of £11,038 or more a year and to gain a fuel cost saving versus oil of 50%-80%.
The fuel cost savings and RHI payments combined will deliver a payback on the capital cost of the equipment in five to six years.