conclusions
From the project we may draw some useful conclusions.
We have completed an appropriate sizing methodology for integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes with the development of a new solar thermal calculator that may correct for what was initially perceived to be the Biomass Decision Support Tool's key deficiency to include heat gains from a solar thermal system coalescing within a central thermal store. The application of this completed sizing methodology revealed that sizing of the biomass boiler system does not infact need to account for solar thermal contributions, as conventional practice is to size the biomass boiler on a "worst winter day" scenario where solar thermal input is assumed negligible anyway. In the interest of predominantly financial feasibility, we propose that solar thermal systems should therefore be sized to satisfy the baseline summer demand for hot water heating, as anything in excess of this would generate a glut in heat with no useful application. These encouraging findings are indicative of the positive complementary nature of our two integrated domestic heating technologies.
We provide a conceptual representation of how a control scheme may be used to intelligently maximise solar thermal contributions within the chosen system configuration, placing particular focus on developing a tool with integral renewable forecasting capacity (for a test site) which may interface with any physical implementation of our chosen concept. It is emphasised that within the scope of this student project we are only able to provide a concept that may be used as a platform for progression in future research, and a professional implementation would need to assess in further detail factors particularly concerning the actual technical and financial feasibility of broad scale deployment.
In analysing a case study of Findhorn Ecovillage, we have performed a condensed feasibility study addressing issues identified to be of particular environmental and financial concern. Our developed biomass transportation emissions tool and biomass land use study combine to hopefully encourage the common consumer to adopt an "eyes wide open" approach to the continued implementation of biomass as a predominant source in the renewable heat market, and look beyond the flawed carbon neutrality that developers suggest through replantation schemes and the like. The financial feasibility results qualitatively conclude that integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes present significant savings in comparison with a reference LPG boiler, but in a segregated breakdown the cost per unit energy of solar thermal exceeds that of biomass by more than a factor of four. This is due to the ineligibility of solar thermal RHI payments within our chosen central thermal store configuration. To provide recommendations, assuming that RHI legislation remains unchanged for the foreseeable future it would be beneficial to investigate the suitability of containerised biomass boilers as the Findhorn Ecovillage looks to expand their preferred heating methodology to further housing districts with financial prosperity.
In general conclusion, we as a student group at The University of Strathclyde have as part of the MSc Sustainable Engineering: Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment postgraduate course, conducted an extensive project investigating the optimisation of integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes. It is hoped that the requisite project work and end deliverables presented within this website forms a positive contribution to our chosen field of study, and that the viewer finds the content both interesting and intellectually insightful!
We have completed an appropriate sizing methodology for integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes with the development of a new solar thermal calculator that may correct for what was initially perceived to be the Biomass Decision Support Tool's key deficiency to include heat gains from a solar thermal system coalescing within a central thermal store. The application of this completed sizing methodology revealed that sizing of the biomass boiler system does not infact need to account for solar thermal contributions, as conventional practice is to size the biomass boiler on a "worst winter day" scenario where solar thermal input is assumed negligible anyway. In the interest of predominantly financial feasibility, we propose that solar thermal systems should therefore be sized to satisfy the baseline summer demand for hot water heating, as anything in excess of this would generate a glut in heat with no useful application. These encouraging findings are indicative of the positive complementary nature of our two integrated domestic heating technologies.
We provide a conceptual representation of how a control scheme may be used to intelligently maximise solar thermal contributions within the chosen system configuration, placing particular focus on developing a tool with integral renewable forecasting capacity (for a test site) which may interface with any physical implementation of our chosen concept. It is emphasised that within the scope of this student project we are only able to provide a concept that may be used as a platform for progression in future research, and a professional implementation would need to assess in further detail factors particularly concerning the actual technical and financial feasibility of broad scale deployment.
In analysing a case study of Findhorn Ecovillage, we have performed a condensed feasibility study addressing issues identified to be of particular environmental and financial concern. Our developed biomass transportation emissions tool and biomass land use study combine to hopefully encourage the common consumer to adopt an "eyes wide open" approach to the continued implementation of biomass as a predominant source in the renewable heat market, and look beyond the flawed carbon neutrality that developers suggest through replantation schemes and the like. The financial feasibility results qualitatively conclude that integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes present significant savings in comparison with a reference LPG boiler, but in a segregated breakdown the cost per unit energy of solar thermal exceeds that of biomass by more than a factor of four. This is due to the ineligibility of solar thermal RHI payments within our chosen central thermal store configuration. To provide recommendations, assuming that RHI legislation remains unchanged for the foreseeable future it would be beneficial to investigate the suitability of containerised biomass boilers as the Findhorn Ecovillage looks to expand their preferred heating methodology to further housing districts with financial prosperity.
In general conclusion, we as a student group at The University of Strathclyde have as part of the MSc Sustainable Engineering: Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment postgraduate course, conducted an extensive project investigating the optimisation of integrated biomass-solar thermal district heating schemes. It is hoped that the requisite project work and end deliverables presented within this website forms a positive contribution to our chosen field of study, and that the viewer finds the content both interesting and intellectually insightful!
