The Florence Park training ground of Colchester United Football Club is now being kept warm by a Grant Spira biomass boiler.
The heating system at the premises was previously fuelled by LPG so, since the installation of the 72kW Spira, the club is now benefitting from cheaper fuel costs and lower carbon emissions which ties in nicely with Colchester United’s environmental commitments. Furthermore, the Spira will also generate an income for the Club as the system will qualify for the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.
Installing the Spira was Grant G-One accredited biomass engineers, Blue Flame (Colchester) Ltd who are based in Essex. The 72kW unit consists of a twin boiler installation which is fitted with a central hopper/twin auger arrangement. Combining two 9/36kW boilers achieves high outputs cost effectively because the precise electronic burner controls allow the units to modulate as one. This feature, alongside the boilers’ extremely high condensing efficiencies, makes the Spira an incredibly competitive alternative to more traditional heating appliances.
Alongside the 72kW Spira, a 5 tonne Grant wood pellet store has also been installed at Florence Park which will allow the club to purchase their wood pellets in bulk quantities, which is cheaper than buying smaller bags of fuel. Ranging in size from 500kg up to 6 tonnes, Grant’s pellet stores safely store large quantities of pellets providing peace of mind to the end-user who can be assured that months of fuel are on site ready to feed into the boiler when needed. Grant pellet stores can either supply the pellets directly into the boiler via an auger or, when the bulk store has to be located some distance from the boiler, the SpiraVac wood pellet vacuum can be fitted, which automatically transfers the fuel. This vacuum system will ensure that the boiler is continuously fed with fuel to meet a property’s heating demands.
Kevin Bull, from Blue Flame, commented on the club’s decision to turn to renewable energy: “The system installed initially was LPG because the building is off-gas, so the biomass boiler has made a significant difference to the running costs.”
Not only is Grant’s Spira boiler reliable, energy efficient and environmentally friendly, it is also eligible for the RHI. MCS approved, the Spira can provide a property with sustainable heating while also generating an income for the owner either through the Domestic or Non-Domestic RHI. With the Government’s Autumn Statement recently confirming that funding for the RHI will continue until 2020/21, both homeowners and businesses can financially benefit from turning their heating systems green.
The Spira has been a popular choice for homeowners since the range launched in 2011. The ability to fit several units’ together allows the heating demands of a wide range of properties to be met.
Colchester United decided to go green and heat their Florence Park training grounds using biomass because they wanted to improve and maintain the club’s commitment to the local community and environment. James Mealing from Blue Flame explained that the “players and staff at Florence Park will now enjoy heating and hot water without using up the country’s gas resources and the club will see a significant reduction in heating bills.”