success stories of biomass heating in small scale...3 success stories of biomass heating in small...
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Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale
byBioHousing - Sustainable, comfortable and
competitive biomass based heating of private houses
Publishable result-oriented report
EIE/05/067/SI2.420197
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Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale
byBioHousing - Sustainable, comfortable and
competitive biomass based heating of private houses
1 January 2006 – 31 December 2008
Annimari Lehtomäki & Tytti Laitinen, Jyväskylä Innovation Oy, Finland
Eija Alakangas & Camilla Wiik, VTT, Finland
Pekka Äänismaa, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Lorenzo Corbella, ETA – Energia, Transporti, Agricoltura srl, Italy
Jimmy Pennequin & Corinne Floc’h-Laizet, Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie, France
Francisco Puente-Salve, ESCAN, S.A., Spain
Martin Englisch & Angelika Rubick, Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik, Austria
Publishable result-oriented report
February 2009
Copyright © Jyväskylä Innovation Oy 2009
PUBLISHERJyväskylä Innovation Oy, P.O. Box 27, FI - 40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FinlandTel. +358 14 4451 100, fax +358 14 4451 199
Layout: Katja MaunonenPhoto on cover page: Vapo Oy
www.biohousing.eu.com
The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
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Preface ........................................................................................................................ 6
Executive summary .................................................................................................... 8
1 Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale for different target group .... 9
1.1 House builders and house owners ...................................................................................10
1.2 Biomass and housing industry ..........................................................................................26
1.3 Training of professionals ...................................................................................................36
1.4 Entrepreneurs in energy and service sectors ..................................................................38
2 Co-operation and dissemination ...........................................................................43
EACI contract person and BioHousing partners .....................................................48
Contents
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BioHousing - Sustainable, comfortable and competitive biomass based heating of private houses –project (EIE/05/067-SI2.420197) was carried out during 2006-2008. In the BioHousing-project, the aim was to promote and produce systems which enable private house owners to use sustainable bioenergy. Additionally, the aim was to raise awareness that biomass based heating systems are considered as realistic and convenient alternative for heating private houses.
The project consortium was managed initially by Jyväskylän Teknologiakeskus Oy (Jyväskylä Science Park, JSP) and after the business take over in June 2006 by Jyväskylä Innovation Oy (JI). The project management has been carried out by Ms. Tytti Laitinen supported by Dr. Annimari Lehtomäki.
Project partners were from the following organisations:● VTT – Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland● JUA - Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Finland● ETA – Energia, Transporti, Agricoltura srl, Italy● Biomasse Normandie - Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie, France● ESCAN - ESCAN, S.A., Spain● ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik, Austria
The project was co-financed by Intelligent Energy - Europe programme of the European Commission.
Jyväskylä, 28 February, 2009Tytti Laitinen, coordinator
Preface
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Executive summary
In the BioHousing-project, the aim was to promote and produce systems which enable private house owners to use sustainable bioenergy. Additionally, the aim was to raise awareness that biomass based heating systems are considered as realistic and convenient alternative for heating private houses.
Generally speaking, people are interested to heat their houses by renewable energy resources. However, one barrier in investing in biomass heating systems is that commercial turn-key options are lacking in the market. This was the starting point of the project. Single-family house models do not include RES-based heating options. In prefabricated houses the building area is very carefully planned and the room for technical equipment is pretty small. Solid biomass heating requires more space than other water circulation based heating systems. Boiler and fuel storage require larger floor space, heating and cleaning the boiler require clearance and fuel trucks must have easy access to the storage.
The prefabricated boiler room unit is developed to ease and speed up the house construction work. Especially when considering the biomass (pellet) heating system, the customers have thought that purchasing, installing and starting up the system is difficult. For this demand the prefabricated boiler room unit is the right technical solution.
The BioHousing - project has produced two innovative and user-friendly web-based tools to assist the house builder or renovator by comparing different heating systems and offering information about heating related equipment.
With the multilingual Heating Tool, it is possible to compare the energy and investment costs of the heating forms in several European countries. The user can modify most of the initial calculation data. This makes it possible to estimate the heating costs of different kinds of houses. The calculator estimates also the average CO2 emissions of the different heating forms. The Heating Tool includes also information (3-D model, videos, animations) about up-to-date technical bioheating solutions. www.biohousing.eu.com/heatingtool
The BioHousing catalogue is a user-friendly web tool, allowing multi-criteria search of over more than 3900 products available in five participating countries (Austria, Finland, France, Italy and Spain). At the beginning of the project, partners decided that only efficient heating
devices (more than 70% efficiency) will be promoted in this catalogue, in order to follow EU regulations on energy savings and emissions reductions. The web user is invited to choose the language in which the information is displayed: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Finnish. The catalogue is focusing on small scale biomass use, which includes stoves, inserts, burners, boilers and boiler houses, but also equipments for producing fuels (splitters, chippers). The multi-criteria search allows the user to select the type of equipment or the fuel, according to his needs. Equipment data sheets are displaying relevant technical details such as final output, emissions and efficiency, as well as practical information on manufacturers and retailers.www.biohousing.eu.com/catalogue
Information material for sustainable biomass heating provides information about efficient and environmentally friendly stove heating. The published material includes theoretical data, practical guidelines and official regulations concerning stove heating in Finland, Austria, France, Italy and Spain. In addition to heating, information material contains information about storing firewood and purchasing firewood. The aim of this material is to activate house owners to use stoves during cold winter time and thus even out the electricity peaks. Additionally the aim is to avoid emissions, to get efficient combustion and comfortable heat. www.biohousing.eu.com/stoveheating
During the BioHousing – project more than 1000 boiler installers, maintenance professionals, engineers, teachers, chimney sweepers, adult students, energy consultants, architects, salesmen and construction engineers of house manufacturers etc. have been trained. Via training and provided training material awareness of requirements and needs of solid biomass heating and professional knowledge is increased.
The BioHousing- project has encouraged energy service entrepreneurship and trained potential entrepreneurs as well as produced tools for them to increase their professional skills to service private house owners with their biomass heating system. The aim for the energy entrepreneurship is to help the expansion of solid biomass heating by removing the need of a private house onwer to take care of a heating system by himself.
All reports, publications and other material mentioned in this report are downloadable at the BioHousing –project’s website (www.biohousing.eu.com).
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1. Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale for
different target group
Compared to e.g. gas or electricity, solid biomass heating requires more space than other water circulation based heating systems. Boiler and fuel storage require larger floor space, heating and cleaning the boiler require clearance and fuel trucks must have easy access to storage. Lack of knowledge, disregarding requirements of biomass heating as well as absence of standard technical systems and high investment costs have been the greatest barriers in promoting biomass based energy in private houses.
The BioHousing-project aimed to remove the barriers via designing of standard and commercial technical systems and by producing tools and information material for sustainable biomass heating. Project encouraged energy service entrepreneurship and trained energy actors to increase their professional skills to advice house builders and decision-makers.
Use of stoves as auxiliary or main heating system is common in Europe. Selection of stove and firewood storage and good firing practices are essential to avoid emissions, to get efficient combustion and comfortable
heat. The BioHousing-project has produced a wide range of information material about efficient and environmentally friendly stove heating.
The main target groups in the BioHousing -project have been● House builders and house owners● Biomass and house industry (e.g. construction
engineers, architects, retail sales agents of prefabricated houses, apartment building superintendents, heating systems and fuels, boiler manufacturers, heating, plumbing and air conditioning branch professionals)
● Training of professionals (e.g. lectures of building sector at polytechnics and vocational schools)
● Entrepreneurs in energy and service sectors (e.g. chimney sweepers, energy consultants)
In the following chapters, we will invite You to learn more about sustainable, comfortable and competitive biomass based heating of private houses via information and tools produced during the BioHousing -project.
Photo: Finndomo Oy
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There are more than 30 million single-family houses altogether in Finland, Austria, France, Italy and Spain. If house owners and new house builders would increase their use of solid biomass fuels, the greenhouse gas emissions caused by private houses could be reduced considerably.
The choice of the heating system is one of the most important and long lasting decisions, the house builder has to make. In addition to the environmental effects, the choice of the heating system has also an effect on the investment, energy and maintenance costs as well as for the comfortableness of living.
In the BioHousing-project, we have developed and produced concepts and tools as well as information material for private house builders and house owners to enable the use of sustainable biomass and solar heating.
Web based catalogue of heating related equipment
A web based catalogue of biomass heating related equipment is a user-friendly web tool, allowing multi-criteria search for almost 4000 products. The catalogue is focusing on small scale
1.1 House builders and house owners
biomass utilisation, which includes stoves, inserts, burners, boilers, but also equipments for producing fuels (splitters, chippers). Only high efficiency equipment (>70%) are listed in the catalogue.The equipment data sheets are displaying relevant technical details such as emissions and efficiency, as well as information on manufacturers and retailers. The catalogue is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Finnish. By 31/12/2008 almost 10,000 persons have visited the catalogue.
www.biohousing.eu.com/catalogue
The catalogue of heating related equipment includes the listed data from the participating countries as follows:
Country Manufacturers Retailers/Importers
Products
Austria 42 1 447Finland 48 101 729France 67 64 1470Italy 74 27 1253Spain 6 15 56TOTAL 237 208 3955
The picture shows the proportion and numbers of different types of heating related equipment in the catalogue.
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Picture: Proportion and numbers of different types of heating related equipment in the catalogueof heating related equipment
Example to make a search in the catalogue of heating related equipment
• Open the front page of the Catalogue (www.biohousing.eu.com/catalogue)
• Open the Catalogue
• 1. step – selection of the language (6 European languages available)
556 47
3 120
98 113
21
5 %79 %
16 %
Central heating systems
Separate heating devices
Fuel production systems
Picture: Proportion and numbers of different types of heating related equipment in the catalogue of heating related equipment
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Example to make a search in the catalogue of heating related equipment
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Picture: Proportion and numbers of different types of heating related equipment in the catalogueof heating related equipment
Example to make a search in the catalogue of heating related equipment
• Open the front page of the Catalogue (www.biohousing.eu.com/catalogue)
• Open the Catalogue
• 1. step – selection of the language (6 European languages available)
556 47
3 120
98 113
21
5 %79 %
16 %
Central heating systems
Separate heating devices
Fuel production systems
● Openthefrontpageof theCatalogue(www.biohousing.eu.com/catalogue)
● OpentheCatalogue
● 1.step–selectionof thelanguage(6Europeanlanguagesavailable)
● 2.step–chooseselectionbyequipmentorbymanufacturer
● Intheexample,thesearchhasbeenmadebyequipment(aboiler)
● 3.step–multi-criteriasearch
● Intheexample,thefollowingcriteriasaregiveno fuel–woodpelletso outputcategory–single-familyhouseo boilertype–pelletboiler
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• 2. step – choose selection by equipment or by manufacturer
• In the example, the search has been made by equipment ( a boiler)
• 3. step – multi-criteria search• In the example, the following criterias
are given o fuel – wood pelletso output category – single-family houseo boiler type – pellet boiler
• 4. step –display of results of the search
• 5. step – technical and practical information of the equipment (description, test report, efficiency, emissions, manufacturer and international retailers etc.)
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Heating Tool
The internet-based Heating Tool was designed in order to disseminate information about pros and cons of different heating forms in Europe. The purpose of the Heating Tool is to facilitate the decision making of selection of the heating system and to increase the understanding of different aspects of the heating forms. It is targeted to the general public, house owners and builders, energy advisors, house sellers, and students.
With the multilingual Heating Tool, the user may orientate him/herself visually with pros and cons of different heating form (Part 1. Heating Alternatives). Secondly, it is possible to calculate the energy and investment costs of five heating forms in several European areas (Part 2. Energy
● 4.step–displayof resultsof thesearch
● 5.step–technicalandpracticalinformationof theequipment(description,testreport,efficiency,emissions,manufacturerandinternationalretailersetc.)
Calculator). The calculator includes price information (links to up-to-date information) and it estimates the average CO2
emissions of the different heating forms. The third section includes information of selected European bioheating solutions that have been studied in the BioHousing project (Part 3. Solutions). The Heating Tool includes information (3-D model, videos, animations) about up-to-date technical bioheating solutions. The Heating Tool is linked to the Catalogue of heating related equipment.
The Heating Tool is available in English, Finnish, French, German, Italian and Spanish. In the English language version, the user of the energy calculator can select the climate zone (5 climate zones available) that covers the
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• 2. step – choose selection by equipment or by manufacturer
• In the example, the search has been made by equipment ( a boiler)
• 3. step – multi-criteria search• In the example, the following criterias
are given o fuel – wood pelletso output category – single-family houseo boiler type – pellet boiler
• 4. step –display of results of the search
• 5. step – technical and practical information of the equipment (description, test report, efficiency, emissions, manufacturer and international retailers etc.)
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user’s own country in Europe. In this case the calculation is based on the data (prices, heating demand, etc) of the neighbouring project partner country. This development step was included to increase the pan-European dimension of the Heating Tool.
Conclusions about the Heating Tool
On grounds of the feedback, it seems that most of the users regard the Heating Tool as a multipurpose tool. Especially, the users have been pleased with the energy calculator,
since the user can modify the calculation data. This makes it possible to estimate the energy costs of different kind of houses. At the moment the energy calculator includes only water-circulated central heating systems, not direct electric heating or auxiliary heating forms like stove or air heat pump heating. Some users have suggested that these later ones could be interesting too, so it seems that there is a need to further develop and update the Heating Tool in the future.
www.biohousing.eu.com/heatingtool
● Open the front page of the Heating Tool (www.biohousing.eu.com/heatingtool)
● OpentheHeatingTool● 1. step – selection of the language (6 Europeanlanguagesavailable)
● 2.step–heatingalternatives11
Heating Tool
The internet-based Heating Tool was designed in order to disseminate information about pros and cons of different heating forms in Europe. The purpose of the Heating Tool is to facilitate the decision making of selection of the heating system and to increase the understanding of different aspects of the heating forms. It is targeted to the general public, house owners and builders, energy advisors, house sellers, and students.
With the multilingual Heating Tool, the user may orientate him/herself visually with pros and cons of different heating form (Part 1. Heating Alternatives). Secondly, it is possible to calculate the energy and investment costs of five heating forms in several European areas (Part 2. Energy Calculator). The calculator includes price information (links to up-to-date information) and it estimates the average CO2 emissions of the different heating forms. The third section includes information of selected European bioheating solutions that have been studied in the BioHousing project (Part 3. Solutions). The Heating Tool includes information (3-D model, videos, animations) about up-to-date technical bioheating solutions. The Heating Tool is linked to the Catalogue of heating related equipment.
The Heating Tool is available in English, Finnish, French, German, Italian and Spanish. In the English language version, the user of the energy calculator can select the climate zone (5 climate zones available) that covers the user’s own country in Europe. In this case the calculation is based on the data (prices, heating demand, etc) of the neighbouring project partner country. This development step was included to increase the pan-European dimension of the Heating Tool.
Conclusions about the Heating Tool
On grounds of the feedback, it seems that most of the users regard the Heating Tool as a multipurpose tool. Especially, the users have been pleased with the energy calculator, since the user can modify the calculation data. This makes it possible to estimate the energy costs of different kind of houses. At the moment the energy calculator includes only water-circulated central heating systems, not direct electric heating or auxiliary heating forms like stove or air heat pump heating. Some users have suggested that these later ones could be interesting too, so itseems that there is a need to further develop and update the Heating Tool in the future.
www.biohousing.eu.com/heatingtool
• Open the front page of the Heating Tool (www.biohousing.eu.com/heating tool)
• Open the Heating Tool • 1. step – selection of the language (6
European languages available)
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• 2. step – heating alternatives
• 3. step – energy calculator (e. g estimation of the heating costs, estimation of CO2 emissions)
User’scomment:Theenergycalculatorisanexcellenttool.Myneighbourwasthinkingaboutaheatingsystemtohisfuturehouse.Hewasprettyunsureaboutthealternatives.IrecommendedtohimtovisittheHeatingTool’senergycalculator.
Afterusingtheenergycalculatorhedecidedtochooseapelletheatingsystem.
CommentbyMr.AhtiSiltanen,RegionalDevelopmentcompanyKeuLinkOy,Finland
Example to use the Heating Tool
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• 2. step – heating alternatives
• 3. step – energy calculator (e. g estimation of the heating costs, estimation of CO2 emissions)
● 3. step – energy calculator (e. g estimation of the heating costs, estimation of CO2 emissions)
● 4. step – solutions (e.g. up-to-date technical bioheating solutions, 3D- model, videos, animations)
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• 4. step – solutions (e.g. up-to-date technical bioheating solutions, 3D- model, videos, animations)
Example from Austria (ks. englanninkielinen tulisijakirja_sivu 18)
Pellet stove is situated in the living room. Photo: Martin Englisch, ofi [Martin_Englisch_livingroom.JPG]
A water accumulator is situating in the cellar of house. Photo: Martin Englisch, ofi [Martin_Englisch_accumulator.JPG]
The Austrian example is a detached single family house in the northwest of the city Vienna situated close to the Viennese forests. The pellet stove is located in the living room of a single family house which consists of a heated cellar (office rooms) a ground floor and two additional floors. The stove has an overall efficiency (measured on site!) of approximately 94%. Approximately 80% of the energy content of the pellets is transferred to a primary water circuit that feeds the energy into a water accumulator (1,000 litres) in the cellar of the building. From this accumulator, the floor heating system is fed to all rooms in the house. Hot water is also provided from the accumulator by a warm water module. Solar radiation supports the heating system. 16 m² thermal solar panels located at the roof of the house feed energy into the accumulator which provide up to 30% of the energy required for heating. The solar system provides the total hot water required for this and the neighbouring house from April to September.
Start up: December 2007
Technical data: pellet central heating stove EVO Aqua from company RIKA, capacity 12 kW
Pellet storage: The pellet storage room is located in the cellar of the house. It is equipped with a sloped floor and an automatic, pneumatic conveying system. It has a capacity of approximately 4.5 tons pellets, which covers the demand for more than a year.
Building, floor space: Low energy single family house without controlled living space ventilation, total space of the house is 191 m² and heated volume 515 m³. The heat requirements are calculated according to European regulation: 56.74 kWh/m², a. Annual heating costs for
User’scomment:Formeasacustomerit’shardtodecideduringthehousebuildingprocessaheatingsystem;whichinformationisonlyasellingargumentandwhichisreliable.TheHeatingToolwithits’energycalculator,developedbyaninternationalconsortium,isagood
instrument,thatoffersobjectiveinformation.FinallyIdecidedtoinvestinapelletstove.
Commentof Mr.KarlDorner,privatehouseownerinVienna,Austria
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Example from Austria
The Austrian example is a detached single family house in the northwest of the city Vienna situated close to the Viennese forests. The pellet stove is located in the living room of a single family house which consists of a heated cellar (office rooms) a ground floor and two additional floors. The stove has an overall efficiency (measured on site!) of approximately 94%. Approximately 80% of the energy content of the pellets is transferred to a primary water circuit that feeds the energy into a water accumulator (1,000 litres) in the cellar of the building. From this accumulator, the floor heating system is fed to all rooms in the house. Hot water is also provided from the accumulator by a warm water module. Solar radiation supports the heating system. 16 m² thermal solar panels located at the roof of the house feed energy into the accumulator which provide up to 30% of the energy required for heating. The solar system provides the total hot water required for this and the neighbouring house from April to September.
Start up: December 2007
Technical data: pellet central heating stove EVO Aqua from company RIKA, capacity 12 kW
Pellet storage: The pellet storage room is located in the cellar of the house. It is equipped with a sloped floor and an automatic, pneumatic conveying system. It has a capacity of approximately 4.5 tons pellets, which covers the demand for more than a year.
Building, floor space: Low energy single family house without controlled living space ventilation, total space of the house is 191 m² and heated volume 515 m³. The heat requirements are calculated according to European regulation: 56.74 kWh/m², a. Annual heating costs for 2008/2009 heating season are expected to be approximately €700 based on the pellet price of €170 including delivery and taxes.
Special features of the system: The system is fully automated. The pellets are transported by a pneumatic system from the storage room in the cellar, which is filled once a year into the stove. The maintenance is reduced to cleaning once a week for approximately one hour. It is planned to change the pellet stove to a dual stove, which can also use also log wood which can by bought for low price.
Pellet stove is situated in the living room. Photo: Martin Englisch, ofi
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2008/2009 heating season are expected to be approximately €700 based on the pellet price of €170 including delivery and taxes.
Special features of the system: The system is fully automated. The pellets are transported by a pneumatic system from the storage room in the cellar, which is filled once a year into the stove. The maintenance is reduced to cleaning once a week for approximately one hour. It is planned to change the pellet stove to a dual stove, which can also use also log wood which can by bought for low price.
User’s comment: The energy calculator is an excellent tool. My neighbour was thinking about a heating system to his future house. He was pretty unsure about the alternatives. I recommended to him to visit the Heating Tool’s energy calculator. After using the energy calculator he decided to choose a pellet heating system.
Comment by Mr. Ahti Siltanen, Regional Development company KeuLink Oy, Finland
User’s comment: For me as a customer it’s hard to decide during the house building process a heating system; which information is only a selling argument and which is reliable. The Heating Tool with its’ energy calculator, developed by an international consortium, is a good instrument, that offers objective information. Finaly I decided to invest in a pellet stove.
Comment of Mr. Karl Dorner, private house owner in Vienna, Austria
Picture. Using Heating Tool’s energy calculator for the example case. Annual investment and heating costs for wood-based heating system (log wood and wood pellets) are the lowest.
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Efficient and environmentally friendly stove heating
In recent years environmental issues have also been considered when assessing energy issues related to private houses. These environmental issues include climate change and the environmental load of private houses over their entire lifespan. Energy consumption accounts for 80 to 90 percent of the environmental load of private houses over their entire lifespan. Well-designed houses consume half the energy and create half the environmental loading of ordinary houses. Environmental loading is further reduced when the energy required comes from renewable sources, such as wood, solar and geothermal heating.
The most important aspects of fireplace heating are as follows:● purchase the right fireplace – invest in efficient
and clean technology● follow the instructions of the manufacturer● use dry firewood for heating● learn efficient and environmentally friendly ways
of heating your house and take also health issues into account
● maintain your fireplace to ensure its ability to store heat and to guarantee fire safety
Purchasing a fireplace or stove is usually part of the construction process and should be planned at the start of the project. This makes it easier to take into consideration its space requirements, ideal position, ventilation and flue structures as the construction work progresses.
Care should be taken when selecting a fireplace or stove, as they are fixed structures that dominate the space in which they are.
To make the choice easier, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Will the fireplace/stove be the primary source of heat for the building (e.g. in a holiday cottage)?
2. Will the fireplace/stove be a source of reserve or auxiliary heat?
3. How important is the fireplace/stove as a source of entertainment or atmosphere?
4. How do you get your firewood?
5. How often will you heat the fireplace/stove?
Find out also what is the best place for the fireplace or stove in terms of heat efficiency, functionality and appearance. Once you have selected the type of fireplace or stove you want, you have to find an appropriate flue, make sure there is appropriate ventilation and begin looking at the models
and properties offered by different manufacturers. You can also contact a mason or bricklayer if you prefer a tailor-made fireplace or stove. Prefer to select low emission and efficient stove, which is tested.
Use dry firewood - moisture content less than 20 w-%
All tree species can be used as firewood. Naturally, however, different tree species have different properties. It is useful to note the differences in terms of quality. Softwood (coniferous) trees, such as spruce, fir and pine, can spark a lot when burnt, so they are not ideal for use in open fireplaces. Of course, this does not prevent them from being used in enclosed fireplaces or continuously heated sauna stoves. Robinia, beech and oak in Central Europe and birch in the Nordic countries have a high energy content thanks to the density of the wood. Robinia, oak, beech and birch are therefore ideal for heating ovens, heat retaining fireplaces and open fireplaces. Alder is particularly suitable for continuously heated saunas and smoke saunas.
The most important factor affecting the quality of firewood is moisture content, which determines how much of the energy content can be utilised. The ideal moisture content for firewood is less than 20 percent. The moisture content of fresh wood is generally 45 to 55 percent. After 1 to 2 years of storage time it is in an “air dried” condition with a moisture content of 15 to 20 percent. Hardwood dries more slowly than softwood, and the drying time for oak is especially long. Ideally firewood should be stored for at least two years in a sunny, well aerated place. The combustion of fresh cut or moist wood in a stove provides little energy and can harm the furnace.
Dry wood that has been split into suitable sizes is easier to ignite than moist wood. Dry wood also burns more efficiently, produces less emissions and provides more heat than moist wood. The drier the wood, the greater its energy content (=net calorific value).
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Explanations for photos: 1.5-meter wide doorway allows firewood to be transported directly to the woodshed from the lorry. The minimum volume for Nordic conditions is 5 m3 and in Southern Europe a few cubic metres. The floor has good ventilation using 50 x 100 cm wood blanks and 1 cm space between the wood blanks. The front door is facing the building into which the logs will be carried.
There is not much difference in the energy content of different tree species on a similar weight basis. In terms of volume, robinia, beech and birch have the highest energy content due to its density. All wood species contain approximately equal amounts of energy – 4 kWh/kg with a moisture content of 20 percent.
It is recommended that a maximum of 0.5 cubic metres of firewood is stored inside unless stored in a separate compartmentalised storage area.
An ideal woodshed for storing one year’s consumption of firewood. Photo: Lauri Sikanen
1.5-meter wide doorway allows firewood to be transported directly to the woodshed from the lorry.
The minimum volume for Nordic conditions is 5 m3
and in Southern Europe a few cubic metres.
The front door is facing the building into which the logs will be carried.
The floor has good ventilation using 50 x 100 cm wood blanks and 1 cm space between the wood blanks.
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Important advice for firewood storage
● Do not stack wood against the outer walls of buildings beneath the eaves, as this increases the risk of fire and can damage wall structures.
● Car garages and other vehicle shelters are not suitable for storing firewood.
● Fire safety regulations limit the amount of solid fuel that can be stored inside residential buildings to 0.5 m3 in Finland unless stored in a separate compartmentalised storage area. Other countries do not have any special requirements.
● Unnecessary combustible materials must not be stored in workrooms, attics, basements, beneath buildings or in yards.
● Nothing should be stored in emergency or other exits or in the corridors of attics, basements or storage areas.
● Firewood should not be stored directly on top of the ground without supporting logs or be covered too tightly to prevent the accumulation of moisture that can cause the wood to rot.
Formation of emissions in stove heating
The combustion of all fuels is based on a chemical reaction in which fuel reacts with the available oxygen and produces heat energy. The ideal combustion of hydrocarbons in fuel produces only carbon dioxide and water. The formation of emissions depends on the properties of the fuel (chemical composition, moisture content, size), the amount of fuel
per unit of time (kg/hour), the amount and mixing of combustion air, the design of the fireplace or stove, and how the combustion is managed. Efficient combustion produces low emissions.
Each combustion process creates water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). If the fuel contains sulphur, sulphur dioxide (SO2) is also created. Since the sulphur content of wood fuels is low, generally less than 0.05% of the weight of the dry matter, the amount of sulphur dioxide in the flue gas is small. Usually combustion is imperfect and carbon monoxide (CO) and other harmful emissions, such as particle emissions and hydrocarbons (CXH or OGC), are formed when the carbon is burnt. The formation of nitrogen oxide () depends on the temperature of the fireplace or stove and the nitrogen content of the fuel. The nitrogen content of wood is less than 0.5% of the dry weight. If the temperature exceeds 1400o C, so-called terminal NOX is formed. However, such temperatures are seldom reached in ordinary fireplaces or stoves. If the fuel contains chloride (Cl), extremely toxic furans and dioxins can be formed in poor or poorly managed combustion conditions. These are generally formed when burning waste.
The emissions from small fires are referred to as local emissions. They are released from low heights and affect in particular the surrounding air quality. The emissions from small wood fires cannot be controlled as well as those from large furnaces that utilise particle separators and more advanced control technology.
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The emissions of fireplaces and small stoves depend on many factors, including:
● the quality of the fuel (moisture content, size),● the composition of the fuel (potassium, sodium and
chloride content),● the combustion method (by batches or continuous)● how they are managed (settings, ignition and refills),
and ● the heating method (heat retaining or direct heating)
and ● the technology and maintenance of the fireplace or
stove.
The quality of the fuel and how it is used have the biggest effect on emissions. They have a big impact on the creation of soot and condensating hydrocarbons, which play a vital role in the formation of particulates. In batch combustion, such has when heating fireplaces, hydrocarbons are created mostly at the start of the combustion process and during the most active pyrolysis phase. Inorganic elements, such as potassium (K), sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl), are easily vaporised and create inorganic compounds in the form of particulates smaller than 1 μm, some of which are transported with the flue gas. A significant share of the particle emissions are created during the pyrolysis phase. Most hydrocarbon emissions are also created during the pyrolysis phase. Carbon monoxide emissions are also created during char burning phase.
Wood contains large quantities of potassium (K), which is vaporised during combustion and creates fine particles. In other words, fine particles cannot be totally eliminated even
with the most efficient combustion due to the properties of the fuel. However, most of the fine particles from burning logs are the result of incomplete combustion. Fine particles refer to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). One μm equals 0.001 mm.
The share of fine particles of total suspended particle mass varies according to combustion method and conditions. In addition to mass, fine particles are also described by their number (per cm3) or by specific emissions (mg/MJ or mg/kg burnt wood).
Fine particles come from remote sources, from transportation, from light dust and sea salt, and from burning and other sources. Amount of these estimates vary according to different sources.
The smallest particles can be carried deep into respiratory systems, causing an increase in asthma symptoms and respiratory and heart diseases.
Batch combustion and continuous combustion create different levels of emissions. There are also considerable variations in the amount of emissions produced by each type of burning. Small stoves create total particle emissions (TPS) of less than 200 mg/MJ on average. The carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and particle emissions from batch burning are higher than those from continuous combustion.
Continuous combustion (for example in pellet stoves) creates approximately 20 mg/MJ of fine particles and as little as 5 – 10 mg/MJ. Particulate emissions from fireplaces
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and stoves vary considerably depending on the quality of the fuel and how the fireplace or stove is used. The hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions from the newest heat retaining fireplaces and stoves are a tenth those of traditional fireplaces and stoves.
The particle content depends on what measuring system is employed. As many different systems are used, their results cannot be compared directly. For all results to be comparable, standardised particle measuring systems should be employed.
In terms of emissions, the most detrimental form of combustion is “smouldering” burning in which the fireplace or stove is generally filled to the limit with wood or combustion is prolonged by restricting the amount of air. With this method of burning a high temperature is achieved too slowly, and the amount of air is insufficient to burn all the gases. Due to the low temperature, high quantities of soot and tar are formed and stick to the surfaces of flues and chimneys. Soot that has accumulated along the surfaces of smoke channels reduces heat transfer and increases the risk of soot fires.
Fine particles are produced by both good and poor combustion. In good combustion conditions the particle emissions consist of primarily inorganic fly ash. In poor combustion conditions, however, the share of fly ash is smaller due to the higher quantities of soot and hydrocarbons. The more efficient combustion is, the higher the proportion of fine particles. The quantities do not necessarily correlate directly with the quality of combustion. The size of particles, however, is smaller as a result of good combustion.
Use small pieces of wood when lighting the fire. Photo: Eija Alakangas, VTT
Good firing habits – less emission and better efficiency
The manufacturer or builder of your fireplace or stove should provide instructions for how to use that specific model. Care should be taken when lighting new fireplaces and stoves for the first time.
The following guidelines have been drawn up for traditional fireplaces and stoves.
Use kindling and dry firewood
Use kindling and dry firewood. The ideal moisture content of firewood is 15 to 20%. Dry wood should making a clinking sound when hit together. Wood shavings, newspaper, bark and small wood chips are ideal for kindling. Roughly an armful of dry firewood is required for a single heating. The firewood should be carried indoors well in advance to allow it to warm up to room temperature. If you store firewood outdoors, the logs should be carried indoors two days before it is burnt. Each batch should weigh 3 to 5 kg. For the first batch use kindling and smaller logs weighing approximately 0.5 kg each and around 5 cm in diameter. The length of the logs depends on the design of the fireplace or stove. The ideal length is approximately 5 cm shorter than the length or width of the fire box. For the second batch use larger logs weighing approximately 1 kg each and 8 to 10 cm in diameter. A log of this size will weigh about the same as a litre of milk in a carton. For baking ovens and cooking stoves, smaller logs with a diameter of less than 5 cm should be used.
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Never use demolition wood that has been painted or impregnated wood. Impregnated wood is hazardous waste. Prepainted wood that are used for house building can contain chemicals used to prevent rot, mould or discolouring. These chemicals may contain hazardous organic halogenated compounds.
Careful preparation is important
Open the damper and check the amount of ash. The level of ash must not reach the fire grate, and the flow of combustion air should be unimpeded. Remove the ash with a container that is made of a fireproof material and that has a cover and legs.
If the fireplace or stove has not been used for a longer period of time, the draught may be poor. If the air inside the flue is damp or colder than the outside air, there will be no draught. The air inside the flue must be heated in order to get it moving. Check the draught by burning a match by the mouth of the main hatch. If the flame does not bend towards the fire grate, preheat the flue. Remove the service hatch from below and burn a crumpled up piece of newspaper inside. Alternatively, you can use a heat blower or hairdryer.
If your heat storage fireplace or stove is equipped with a so called summer damper, it should be opened when lighting the fire to allow the flue gases to flow directly out the chimney instead of circulating through side channels. Once the temperature of the flue rises and proper draught is created, carefully close the summer damper.
In summertime, when fireplaces and stoves are used less frequently, the dampers should be kept open. The flow of air will keep the channels and flue at room temperature, preventing moisture in the air from condensing on the
Preheat the flue by burning a newspaper or using a heat blower or hairdryer.
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surfaces. The dampers should also be kept open in cottages that are kept cold over the wintertime in order to ventilate the flue.
Use small amounts to light the fire
Use a small amount (2.5 to 3 kg) of logs with a diameter of around 5 cm for the first batch. If you have heated the fireplace or stove the previous day, you can use larger logs. Stack them loosely and place kindling on top or underneath depending on the type of fire grate. Stack the logs horizontally or in a crisscross pattern and fill the firebox halfway to the top, unless instructed otherwise by the manufacturer. The hatches can be closed once the logs are burning well.
In baking ovens a small log can be placed crossways at the rear of the oven in order to improve air circulation and combustion. Usually baking ovens should be heated the previous day when baking pastries that require a high temperature, such as rye bread and pizza.
The manufacturer of your fireplace or oven will also provide instructions on how to light a fire. During the ignition phase high temperatures should reach the upper levels of the fuel as fast as possible. This can be achieved best by placing kindling on top of the batch. However, this method does not apply to all fireplace or stove models. The advantage of lighting from the top is that the gases that are released from the lower level of the fuel batch due to the effects of heat are forced to pass through the hot fire zone. This ensures that the gases ignite and burn.
Gradually add more wood
Ideally, firewood should be added gradually and in small amounts. Logs should only be added once the previous batch has burnt almost to embers and the flames have died down. Place the logs preferably with the bark side down and stack the logs tightly together to allow slower gasification. Avoid stirring up the fire too much so that the combustion process is not disturbed. Lots of combustion air is needed to feed the flames.
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Do not fill the firebox to the top. At least one third of the height of the firebox should be left free. Baking ovens and cooking stoves should never be filled more than half way.
Energy from the glow of the embers
Embers that are glowing red release a lot of heat, 25 to 50 percent of the energy content of the wood. Reduce the amount of air flowing through the hatch and stir up embers that have lost their glow. The damper can be closed somewhat when no more blue flames can be seen. Once the embers have died down, the damper can be closed entirely. These days dampers must have a small hole in them even when closed.
In baking ovens, once the combustion has progressed to the final stage, the embers can be spread out and stirred up. In cooking stoves the embers can then be dragged to the front or pushed to the back of the oven to burn out, and the final embers are extinguished under the fire grate. Once the embers have burnt out, the damper can be closed. Before baking the oven should be cleaned with a scraper or brush. Keep the damper open when sweeping. Before placing pastries in the oven, let the temperature level out for 15 to 30 minutes. When cooking, an even heat is not so important.
The combustion has been good if the fire surfaces are white and there is no soot.
A few important tips:● Never burn waste in fireplaces or stoves!● Make sure that the fuel has burnt completely
before closing the dampers.● Never leave a stove unwatched while heating!● Never add ash to compost! Ash is an alkaline, so it
can be used as a fertiliser.● Remember to have your chimney swept! The
owner of the property is legally responsible for chimney sweeping. Stoves that are in continuous use should be swept at least once a year. Use a professional chimney sweeper.
● Officials recommend using a carbon monoxide alarm in properties where there is a fireplace or stove.
● Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This is particularly important with new stoves equipped with more advanced fireboxes and fire grates. The usage of these differs from that of traditional stoves.
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Read more:www.biohousing.eu.com/stoveheating
In English● Alakangas, E., Erkkilä, A & Oravainen, H.,
Rubick, A. & Englisch, M. Corbella, L., Floc’h-Laizet, C., Pennequin, J.& Puente, F. Efficient and environmentally friendly biomass heating, Firewood production and use in fireplaces and stoves, VTT-R-11187-08, 74 p.
● Alakangas, E. Less emissions – better efficiency – How to do this? 20 slides, VTT
● Erkkilä, A, & Alakangas, E., Fill up the woodshed – Tips for storing dry firewood, 3 p. VTT
● Alakangas, E. Stoke it up – heating instructions for stoves, 3 p. VTT
● Rubick, A. Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Austria
● Alakangas, E. Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Finland.
● Floc’h-Laizet, C., Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in France
● Puente, F. & Puente, M. Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Spain
● Corbella, F. Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Italy
● Erkkilä, A. & Alakangas, E. Manual for firewood production, VTT-R-11021-08, p. 35 p.
In Finnish● Alakangas, E. & Oravainen, H. Pökköä pesään –
Varaavien uunien lämmitysohjeita, tiedote 6 s.● Alakangas, E., Erkkilä, A. & Oravainen, H. Tehokas
ja ympäristöä säästävä tulisijalämmitys – Polttopuun tuotanto ja käyttö, VTT- R-10553-08. 67 p.
● Alakangas, E. Tehokas ja ympäristöystävällinen tulisijalämmitys, kalvosarja, 2008.
● Sappinen, M. Pilkkeen ominaisuudet ja varastointi, insinöörityö, JAMK 2007
● Erkkilä, A. & Alakangas, E. Klapia liiteriin – BioHousing tiedote polttopuun varastoinnista, 2007
● Erkkilä, A. & Alakangas, E. Polttopuun valmistaminen, VTT-R-11020-08, 2008, 34 s.
In Swedish● Tips för lagring av torr brännved, 3 p.● Eldningsråd för värmelagrande eldstäder, 3 p.
In French● Diminuer les émissions polluantes et augmenter
l’efficacité de son système de chauffage au bois, c’est possible ! 20 p.
● Conseils pratiques pour stocker ses bûches, 2 p.
In Italy● Il riscaldamento a biomassa, efficiente e rispettoso
dell’ambiente - Produzione e utilizzo di legna da ardere in caminetti e stufe 76p
● Meno emissioni e una migliore efficienza nel riscaldamento a stufe – Come riuscirci? 20 p.
In German● Weniger Emissionen und bessere Wirkungsgrade bei
Kaminöfen – Wie ist das machbar? 20 p.● « Heizen mit Holz – Was Sie schon immer wissen
wollten! « - Information material o Kapitel 1: FAQ o Kapitel 2: Auswahl des optimalen Systems o Kapitel 3: Energie Contracting o Kapitel 4: Heizsysteme und Verbrennungstechnik o Kapitel 5: Brennstoffe, Biomasse und
Verbrennungsrückstände o Kapitel 6: Logistik und Lagerraum Holzpellets o Kapitel 7: Sicherheitstechnik bei Biomassekessel o Kapitel 8: Hydraulische Einbindung o Kapitel 9: Abgasführung o Kapitel 10: Energieverbrauch
Information material is available www.biohousing.eu.com -> training material -> training in Austria
In Spanish● Manual para produccion de lena y uso en estufas y
chimeneas● Mayor eficiencia y menores emisiones en la calefacción
con estufas de biomasa – Cómo conseguirlo? 20 p.
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Generally speaking, people are interested to heat their houses by renewable energy resources. However, one barrier in investing in biomass heating systems is that commercial turn-key options are lacking in the market. This was the starting point of the project. Single-family house models do not include RES-based heating options. In prefabricated houses the building area is very carefully planned and the room for technical equipment is pretty small. Solid biomass heating requires more space than other water circulation based heating systems. Boiler and fuel storage require larger floor space, heating and cleaning the boiler require clearance and fuel trucks must have easy access to the storage.
The prefabricated boiler room unit is developed to ease and speed up the house construction work. Especially when considering the biomass (pellet) heating system, the customers have thought that purchasing, installing and starting up the system is difficult. For this demand the prefabricated boiler room unit is the right technical solution.
During the BioHousing - project several different prefabricated boiler room unit concepts have been developed and promoted. The Austrian EnergyCabin combines solar energy with wood pellet or wood chip technology. The Finnish TT-Group’s unit can be installed inside the house. Therefore the prefabricated house industry is very interested in this solution. TT-Group’s unit enables other heating systems than biomass systems, too. The construction frame
1.2 Biomass and housing industry
is the same but the customer is able to choose the heating equipment freely. Therefore the concept offers several options and is competitive. The BIOCOMPACT unit (manufactured by Ecotecnologie, Italy), providing a “plug and play”solution fed either by pellets or woodchips, shows a high level of standardisation.
Prefabricated boiler room unit concepts and related instructions
The concept by Finnish TT-Group Oy (www.tt-group.fi)
TT-Group’s prefabricated boiler room unit is considered as the technical room of the house because the unit is in most cases installed inside the house. The frame walls of the unit are a steel construction. The minimum number of the frame walls is two so that the heating and other equipment are able to be installed. The safety tray under the floor of the unit is also made of steel. The heating equipment and piping required by biomass heating system are ready-fitted inside the unit at the manufacturing plant. The unit is brought by truck either to the single-family house building site or house factory as one-time delivery. The unit is lifted from the truck and installed inside the house right after the unit is transported to the site. In some special cases, the steel construction is covered with gypsum board plates.
Prefabricated boiler room unit is the technical room of the house. The unit is placed next to the out-side wall. This is the most prac-tical place because there will be a door from outside directly to boiler room. The maintenance of the heating system is so easier. Additionally, if the fuel storage is located outside the house the feeding distance from the stor-age to the boiler is not too long. Layout: TT-Group Oy
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The main benefits of the TT-Group’s concept
The main benefit is that one-time delivery speeds up the building process either on the building site or house factory and the time of the delivery of the unit is fitted with the schedule of the customer (house builder). The customer can easily purchase a functional biomass heating system when having a supply contract with only one supplier. The unit supplier will be responsible of the functionality of the heating system. Therefore the customer doesn’t have to worry who is responsible of which equipment or installation work. In case of the operating troubles electric resistor (6 kW) will work as a backup system.
Inside the house is not the only possible place for the unit but it’s possible to place the unit also inside the garage / storage building or built a separate building for the unit. The first alternative is possible in cases when building area inside the house is wanted to be utilised for other purposes than for heating equipment. In case of existing houses, it is not possible to place the unit inside the house but a separate place is needed. It is possible to build around the unit walls and roof which are tailored to look like the existing buildings. The latter case is very practical for example for row houses when there is a need to renovate and change the existing heating system.
All equipment and their connections are ready checked and tested at the manufacturing plant to ensure that the devices are matching and the heating system will function in best possible way. Under the unit there is a safety tray made of
sheet steel. The floor heating and water-supply pipes are directed to the safety tray and possible leak water is under control. To ensure that the safety tray is working properly, the level of the tray has to be carefully considered in the planning phase.
The unit supplier will deliver the fuel storage when necessary according to each customer’s need. Ready-made underground pellet storages are available on the market. These storages save space on the plot and inside the house. Pellets are transferred from the underground storage using
The unit is brought by truck either to the single-family house building site or house factory as one-time delivery. The unit is lifted from the truck and installed inside the house right after the unit is transported to the site. Photo: TT-Group Oy
Houseindustrycomment:TheFinndomoGroupisScandinavia’sleadingsupplierof industriallyproducedprefabricatedhousesthataremanufacturedinFinlandandSwedenundersevenproductnames.Vaajatalotis
oneof FinndomoOy’sbrandproducts.
“Asaresultof thecooperationwithintheframeworkof theBioHousing-project,Vaajatalotisnowgoingtoofferthehousesalsowithanalternativeheatingsystembasedonbiomass.Vaajatalot’sproductrangeincludes38housemodelsinwhichtheprefabricatedheatingsystemunitdevelopedinthecourseof theBioHousingprojectcanbeinstalled.Itspeedsuptheproductionprocessandincreasestheproductioncapacity,meaning
shorterdeliverytimesforthecustomers.”
CommentbyMr.PerttiLehti,CEO,FinndomoOy,Finland
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pneumatic transfer equipment. The storages are horizontal or vertical, made from either plastic or steel. When considering underground storage, maintenance of the unit must be carefully considered as well as to prevent the pellets to get wet.
The concept by Austrian EnergyCabin (www.energycabin.com)
The concept of Energy Cabin offers a prefabricated system, which already includes a storage room and a solar thermal system. This socalled Energy Cabin was developed by a project partner and was promoted within the BioHousing - project. The company, situated in Gleisdorf/Styria/Austria has offered the systems since 2005. The Cabins are available in a range of heat load from 10 to 1000 kW and
Underground fuel storage is an alternative when the building plot is small or a large storage is not wanted to be placed inside the house. Layout: TT-Group Oy
could be fired with pellets or wood chips. As a plug and play solution it simplifies the access of sustainable heating sources. The customer doesn’t need to be without energy supply during installation, a cellar isn’t obligatory and there won’t be circuitous construction on site because the pre-commissioned boiler-house is installed in one day.
Concept of EnergyCabin.Photo: EnergyCabin
Delivery of an EnergyCabin.Photo: EnergyCabin
Why Energycabin? Why choose a modular heating or cooling system for your home?
EnergyCabin offers many benefits compared to the traditional on-site building method.
Boiler room:● Semi-standardised solutions● Consistently high production quality● Dual fuel possibilities● Tested prior to delivery● Rapid installation – “Take away”● Fit for purpose (style; fittings etc)● Easy maintenance● Financing options (leasing)● Solar/renewable mix
Pellet boiler:● Provides heat and hot water in winter ● Proven technology ● Fully automatic operation ● Remarkable efficiency up to 92% ● Strong environmental performance ● Simple and reliable controls
Solar Thermal System:● Provides free hot water ● Proven technology● Works automatically in tandem with boiler
Fuel Storage● Large storage room ● Variants for pellet or wood-chip● Automatic feeding system● Standard connections for low cost bulk delivery -
pneumatically
Fact sheet:● Location: Landscha, Weiz● Output: 60 kW● Fuel: pellets● Solar panel: 42 m²● Grid: 4 Two family (for rent)
Installed boiler room and solar panels.Photo: EnergyCabin
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The main benefits of the BIOCOMPACT unit
The main benefits of the BIOCOMPACT unit are● Standardised high performance heating solution ● Fully customized and movable● Reliable and safe● Completely automatic and autonomous● Fed by different fuels (pellet or wood-chip)● Plug&Play » superfast installation ● Easily loadable with movable roof ● Monitored for a fast and easy maintenance● Solar thermal plant integration option● Cooling system integration option● Power sharing possibility: suitable for small district
heating grid (two BIOCOMPACT units of 150kW are able to heat 10,000 m3!)
The concept by Italian Ecotecnologie S.r.l. (Biocompact unit ) (www.ecotecnologie.it)
The third example of the prefabricated boiler room unit is the BIOCOMPACT unit developed by the Italian company Ecotecnologie S.r.l. BioHousing -project partner, ETA, promoted the unit within the BioHousing - project. The BIOCOMPACT unit includes the boiler room, storage room and customized solar thermal and cooling systems The unit is available in different sizes, ranging from 30kW (family version) to 150kW (power sharing).
Technical data of the BIOCOMPACT unit
Power [kW] 30 50 65 80 100 150Storage volume [cm]
15 15 15 15 15 23
Length [m] 5.80 5.80 5.80 5.80 5.80 7.20Width [m] 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 3Height [m] 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60 2.60
The Biocompact unit has the movable roof.Photo: Lorenzo Corbella, ETA
The Biocompact unit, Ecotecnologie and the Biohousing project team. Photo: Lorenzo Corbella, ETA
Example study in Finland – Suitability of the prefabricated boiler room unit to single-family houses, row houses and group of houses
Jyväskylä University of Applied Science and Jyväskylä Innovation Ltd. made a study about the suitability of the prefabricated boiler room unit to single-family houses, row houses and group of houses in Finland. The study was focused on construction engineering.
In the work it was studied what kind of requirements the installation work of the prefabricated boiler room unit sets for surrounding house structures in different building stages. It was also studied which building stages need to be finished before the installation of the unit and what changes the unit causes for the stages after the installation.
In the study the suitability of the unit were studied based on several aspects
● different building methods (construction on site or construction with prefabricated units)
● different base floor, outside wall and roof structures
● placement of the unit inside the house (in the cellar or residential floor)
Suitability of the prefabricated boiler room unit to row houses was studied in the renovation point of view. In existing row houses there is often an oil heating system and in many cases the oil boiler is very old and need to be replaced. In these cases it is time to consider sustainable heating systems.
Additionally, the suitability of the prefabricated boiler room unit to group of houses was studied. When the individual
Two houses will be build next to each other (on their own plots of land) and the boiler room (heating unit, <30kW) will be shared. The unit will be situated in the middle of the two plots of land in a garage / storage building (60m2). Layout: Finndomo Oy
houses (4-6 houses) are located next to each other it enables to connect these houses for the same mini heating network. In this case the heating unit is collective. The placement, ownership and maintenance responsibility of the unit are needed to be considered carefully.
Main results of the study
1) Building methods
The prefabricated boiler room unit is better solution for houses built on site than for prefabricated houses. In prefabricated houses it is difficult to sink the safety tray of the unit lower than the floor surface because in factories the base floor structures are made different than in houses built on site.
When the prefabricated boiler room unit is installed inside the prefabricated house at the house factory, the base floor construction of the unit need to be carefully planned. The manufacturing process of the prefabricated buildings is tended to stay permanent without complicated special work. Therefore it is important to adjust the unit to be a part of the continuous manufacturing process.
Anyway, the manufacturers of prefabricated houses (especially Finndomo Oy) are very interested in developing and promoting the concept. The unit is installed at the house factory with one lifting too which speeds up the manufacturing process of the pre-fabricated house. For the customers this shows as a shorter time of house delivery.
Boiler room unit has effects on manufacturing process of the prefabricated house. After the process is carefully reconsidered and changed then the installation of the unit is working well.
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2) Base floor structures
Base floor structure is the main challenge for prefabricated boiler room unit but it is possible to install the unit on top of all base floor structures studied in the study. If any changes are required for the base floor structure it is because the functionality of the safety tray.
3) Log-framed houses (wall structures)
For the log-framed houses the prefabricated boiler room unit is a suitable solution when the steel construction is ready covered with gypsum board plates. Fire protection of the unit is fulfilled apart from the surrounding structures to prevent that the living of the log-framed walls does not have effects for the fire protection. For log-framed house the unit is installed before or after building the surrounding walls.
With the other wall structures, it is recommended to use a fire-compartmentalised solution separated from the unit.
4) Row houses / group of houses
For the existing row houses the prefabricated boiler room unit is an excellent choice. In these cases the boiler room unit is placed in a separate building. Status of ownership is easier to arrange in case of row houses than when there is a group of single-family houses. For group of houses a rational and economical alternative is to have a collective heating unit. If the heating unit is placed on one house’s building plot, it causes automatically an easement. The easement will secure the right of other houses’ usage for the heating unit. One opportunity is to place the heating unit on a separate building plot and establish a limited company about the ownership.
In case that the heating unit is owned by the limited corporation the maintenance of the unit need to be agreed. One possibility is to hire an external entrepreneur to maintain and service the equipment. For example, the chimney sweepers are one potential group of professionals for the work. They are willing to offer their services and knowledge about biomass heating equipment although further education is needed. Additionally the house owners trust in chimney sweepers, for example in small towns chimey sweepers are known persons. Usually there is a separate door to the boiler and fuel storage rooms and therefore the house owners are able to give the door keys to the chimney sweeper who regularly could visit the house and maintain the central heating equipment.
Prefabricated boiler room unit is an excellent choice for existing row houses. Layout: TT-Group Oy
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Example study in Austria
The Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology made a study about the suitability of get a picture of the opinion of the prefabricated house market concerning biomass heating. At the “Blaue Lagune” a prefabricated house park (85 model houses including furniture and tech. equipment) 15 salesmen were interviewed.
Some results of the enquiry:● sustainable, independent heating systems are a great
demand● there are additional costs when implementing a biomass
heating (boiler, feeding device,..)● pellet price has increased a lot during last year and
people believe that pellet price will soon be as high as oil price
● salesmen recommends more heat pumps instead of biomass heating systems
● rumours about safety risks in biomass heating (the fire of fuel storage)
● nearly all interviewees prefer a modular (prefabricated) system that is offered by the prefabricated house supplier
Read more:● Planning guidelines for premanufactured boiler room
and fuel storage units for pellet-heated single-family houses (in English)
● Pellettilämmitteisen pientalon lämmitys- ja varastotilaelementin suunnitteluohjeet (in Finnish)
● Lineeguida per la progettazione di monoblocco prefabbricato contenente il vano caldaia e il serbatoio di stoccaggio per il riscalmento a pellet di case monofamiliari (in Italian)
● Planning guidelines for premanufactured boiler room and fuel storage units for pellet-heated single-family houses - Report on adaptation of “Planning guidelines” to the French context (in English)
● Planificacion y directrices para salas de calderas prefabricadas y unidades de almacenamiento de combustible para viviendas unifamiliares climatizadas con pellets (in Spanish)
● Reduziert Ihre Heizkosten um bis zu 50% - verwendet Bioenergie und die kostenlose Kraft der Sonne Eigene Anlage (in German)
Finnish study● Penttinen S., Lämmitystilayksikön soveltuvuus pientalo-
ja ryhmärakentamiseen (in Finnish), JAMK 2008
Italian study● Integration of a solar thermal system with a domestic
biomass heating system” (in English)● Analisi di fattibilità: impianti di riscaldamento a
biomassa per il complesso residenziale di Scandicci Alto (Firenze)
Spanish study● Design and planning of solar thermal systems and
biomass boiler systems (in English)● Diseno y dimensionamiento de sistemas de energia
solar termica y caldera de biomasa (in Spanish)
Austrian study● Reduziert Ihre Heizkosten um bis zu 50% - verwendet
Bioenergie und die kostenlose Kraft der Sonne - Eigene Anlage (in German)
● Summary of the study Pelletszeitung 2007- Bleibt das Vertrauen in Pelletsheizungen auf der Strecke? (in German)
The miniature model of EnergyCabin. Photo: Tytti Laitinen
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Guide for connecting several houses to a micro-heating network
The objective of “Guide for connecting several houses to a micro-heating network” is to increase the knowledge of private house owners or builders about advantages of pooling heat production (central boiler and micro-heating network) in semi-urban area, in order to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
The guide presents technical characteristics, equipments available on the market and technical instructions to connect several individual houses to a central wood fuelled boiler house, for producing heat and hot service water. The principle is simple: a central boiler room produces hot water, which is delivered to the connected houses through a network of buried insulated pipes. In each house, a small heating transfer device (substation) is needed to provide heating and domestic hot water.
The guide also gives ranges of prices for the needed equipments and their installations, in order for private owners who want to pool energy production by micro-heating network, to make their decision in full knowledge of facts. The guide also provides some examples of existing micro-heating networks.
The drawing of connecting several houses to a wood fuel based micro-heating network Layout: VTT, Finland
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Picture: The layout of connecting several houses to a wood fuel based micro-heating network (VTT, Finland)
Read more:
• Guide for connecting several houses to micro heating network (in English) • Erillistalojen liittäminen lähilämpöverkkoon (in Finnish) • Linee guida per la connessione di utenze domestiche ad una mini rete di teleriscaldamento (in
Italian) • Guide de raccordement de maisons individuelles à un micro-réseau de chaleur (in French) • Guia para conectar varias viviendas a un mini red de calefaccion (in Spanish) • Reduziert Ihre Heizkosten um bis zu 50% - verwendet Bioenergie und die kostenlose Kraft der
Sonne - Nahwärmenetz (in German)
Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations
The BioHousing -project has published also national reports on the biomass use in private houses and emission regulations for small-scale equipment. Woody biomass contributed 1,334 PJ (370 TWh) in households in the EU-27 in 2006, of which more than half was traditional firewood. The biggest consumption of wood fuels in the domestic sector was in France (319 PJ), Germany (222 PJ), Poland (105 PJ) and Romania (108 PJ). Finland consumed 42 PJ, Austria 64 PJ, Italy 68 PJ and Spain 85 PJ in 2006. In Finland emissions testing for fireplaces, stoves and boilers is not yet required, but in Austria, France and Italy they are required. Finnish fireplace, stove and boiler manufacturers have traditionally tested the emissions of their products in order to obtain qualification approval in Austria, Sweden, Germany and the USA.
In many countries qualification approval for fireplaces and stoves has required emissions and efficiency testing. The Finnish Ministry of Environment has proposed a new legislation (D8: Emission regulations and efficiency requirements for wood burning appliciances, Ministry of
Read more:● Guide for connecting several houses to micro heating
network (in English)● Erillistalojen liittäminen lähilämpöverkkoon (in Finnish)● Linee guida per la connessione di utenze domestiche ad
una mini rete di teleriscaldamento (in Italian)● Guide de raccordement de maisons individuelles à un
micro-réseau de chaleur (in French)● Guia para conectar varias viviendas a un mini red de
calefaccion (in Spanish)● Reduziert Ihre Heizkosten um bis zu 50% - verwendet
Bioenergie und die kostenlose Kraft der Sonne - Nahwärmenetz (in German)
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Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations
The BioHousing -project has published also national reports on the biomass use in private houses and emission regulations for small-scale equipment. Woody biomass contributed 1,334 PJ (370 TWh) in households in the EU-27 in 2006, of which more than half was traditional firewood. The biggest consumption of wood fuels in the domestic sector was in France (319 PJ), Germany (222 PJ), Poland (105 PJ) and Romania (108 PJ). Finland consumed 42 PJ, Austria 64 PJ, Italy 68 PJ and Spain 85 PJ in 2006. In Finland emissions testing for fireplaces, stoves and boilers is not yet required, but in Austria, France and Italy they are required. Finnish fireplace, stove and boiler manufacturers have traditionally tested the emissions of their products in order to obtain qualification approval in Austria, Sweden, Germany and the USA.
In many countries qualification approval for fireplaces and stoves has required emissions and efficiency testing. The Finnish Ministry of Environment has proposed a new legislation (D8: Emission regulations and efficiency requirements for wood burning appliciances, Ministry of Environment, Regulations and guidelines 2008). This decree proposal is at present being circulated for commenting. The proposed limit values for stoves and fireplaces are following: CO 0.17 % calculated in 13% oxygen (3,000 mg/Nm3, calculated in 10% of oxygen content) and efficiency at least 70%.
In Austria all new boilers have to be tested according the “ÖNORM EN 303-5 Heating boilers - Part 5”: Heating boilers for solid fuels, hand and automatically stocked, nominal heat output of up to 300 kW - Terminology, requirements, testing and marking. This standard requires wide ranged testing incuding parameters like emissions and efficiency. Each type of biomass-boiler has to be tested once, before it can be released to the market. As long as the costomer uses the recomanded fuel it’s not necessary to test the single product again.
In the near future, all fireplaces and stoves will have to have CE markings and fulfil new emissions and efficiency requirements. CE markings alone will not ensure that these requirements are met. The key types of emissions that are measured are particle, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and NOx emissions. Research has also been carried out on the formation and quantities of other compounds.
Read more:● Use of biomass in private houses and emission
regulations in Finland (in English)
● Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in France (in English)
● Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Italy (in English)
● Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Austria (in English)
● Use of biomass in private houses and emission regulations in Spain (in English)
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Planning and implementation of tailored training events and programmes for professionals played important role in the project. The objective was to increase the knowledge and understanding of bioheating of the selected target groups. The project partners also produced and updated training and information materials that now serve training, advising and safety organisations in learning and dissemination of good firing habits in order to avoid harmful emissions and to select, use and maintain heating systems and stoves efficiently.
The focus of the training programmes were on biomass heating as a central heating system, stove heating as an auxiliary heating and combined solar and biomass heating. The trainings covered solid biomass heating equipment requirements for construction planning, general promotion of the use of renewable energy sources and technical, and environmental and economic issues related to solid biomass heating.
Altogether more than 1,000 persons were trained during the project. The training events included both theoretical (i.e. combustion theory) and practical maintenance and installation education for professionals. The target groups
1.3 Training of professionals
of the events varied from country to country because the needs in participating countries varied substantially and the courses were tailored to national requirements.
The exchange of the training materials between partners increased the understanding of European bioheating markets and offered new viewpoints for participants of the training events. Especially information coming from countries with a wider experience on biomass for houses training (particularly Austria), has been strongly used in other countries starting this training and education. On the other hand, onee important conclusion is that the produced materials are very useful, but they need to be adapted (sometimes slightly) to the varying climatic, market and legislation circumstances in the different countries in Europe.
In Finland, the selected target groups were chimney sweepers, teachers and adult students of energy and housing branches, and sales agents and planning officers of house industry.
In France, trainings were targeted to heating professionals (plumbers, installers, HPAC technicians), building professionals (architects, houses builders, design offices),
More than 1000 persons were trained during the BioHousing -project.Photos by BioHousing Partners
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authorities (municipalities, RES counsellors, energy advisors and promoters), to students and lecturers in technical schools, and to mixed group (merging professionals and promoters).
In Italy, the selected target groups were mainly architects, civil engineers and professionals and representatives of the building sectors: considering the present state of the Italian market, constitute by a huge number of operators (biomass heating systems manufacturers, well educated installers and plumbers, etc) the focus was set to the more influential categories that could develop the market and propose such kind of systems. The Italian training documentation was developed to be very technical but adjustable and suitable for different educational needs.
In Spain, training was directed to professionals (mainly installers of heating and air conditioning systems, and RES installers), polytechnic professionals, adult students and unemployed people, public institutions and mixed groups. The focus was the production of commercial biomass and its use in biomass heating systems.
The main target groups in Austria have been boiler manufacturers, installers, teachers of vocational schools, energy consultants and students/architects and construction engineers. The trainings have been implemented during BioHousing and will be continued after the end of the project.
Training packages
Each partner has produced national training packages. These training packages are available at the website of the BioHousing -project (www.biohousing.eu.com). The main heading is “Training material” and the subhead is for example “Training in Austria”. Most of the material is in national language (Finnish, French, Italian, Spanish and German). However, main parts of the Austrian material are available also in English.
Animations and DVDs
The BioHousing-project was selected to be one of the three Intelligent Energy - Europe (IEE) - projects promoting biomass heating in Europe. The film “Fuelling the future – Promoting Biomass Heating in the European Union” was published at the beginning of year 2008. Representative of Biomasse Normandie has been interviewed for the film. In brief, by the end of year 2008 52 TV broadcasters from 23 countries have requested a copy of the video and some 5.2 million TV viewers saw the material during 19 broadcasts.
The film is downloadable at the BioHousing-project’s website. You are also able to request a copy from Intelligent Energy Europe – programme.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/library/videos_en.htm
In Finland, the level of utilisation of solar energy as an auxiliary heating is still low. As a consequence, an educational film was produced about solar heating in general and instructions how to build and install a solar heat collector. The film is available at the website of the BioHousing -project (www.biohousing.eu.com ->training material -> training in Finland). The duration of the film is 5 minutes. The film is also available in DVD-format (20 min). The film is published in English and Finnish.
TT-Group Oy produced a short 3D-animation to be able to deepen the understanding of the benefits of the prefabricated boiler room concept. The animation is downloadable at the HeatingTool,part3Solutions. The animation has been showed also during the training courses.
Furthermore at the HeatingTool,part3Solutions, there are three short movies available showing different kind of storage rooms (solid, underground, fabric bag) and its integration with the boiler
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The BioHousing- project has encouraged energy service entrepreneurship and trained potential entrepreneurs as well as produced tools for them to increase their professional skills to service private house owners with their biomass heating system. The aim of the energy entrepreneurship is to help the expansion of solid biomass heating by removing the need of a private house owner to take care of a heating system by himself.
In the BioHousing - project, the basis of the energy service entrepreneurship has been in the maintenance services (monthly checks, heat exchangers cleaning, combustion adjustments, failure services) and operation services (fuel management, ash transportation). In this business concept the house owner hires a local energy service entrepreneur to supply the fuel and maintain the heating system. This opportunity encourages to choose the biomass heating system if the house owner is suspicious about his own skills. Developed energy services enable solid biomass heating as equally easy as competing alternatives.
The potential entrepreneurs are e.g. chimney sweepers, energy advisors, installers, boiler manufacturers.
“Bioenergy Maintenance Service Entrepreneur” -business model
In the BioHousing-project the “Bioenergy Maintenance Service Entrepreneur” business model has been developed to promote services related to biomass heating systems.
The business model is a helpful, practical and versatile tool for entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business or enlarging their existing business in the bioenergy sector. The business model will offer information about the viability of the planned business.
The potential business activities included in the business model are● maintenance of the heating system ● purchase of heating devices ● biomass fuel supply ● heat supply ● training and consulting
You may test the “Bioenergy Maintenance Service Entrepreneur” business model for your own business.
1.4 Entrepreneurs in energy and service sectors
Project partners have tested and evaluated the business model with practical case studies (3-5 studies per participating country). The results are listed in the case study report. The business model, working instructions and case study report are downloadable at the project’s website (www.biohousing.eu.com -> entrepreneurship). This material in published in English.
In order to utilize the business model as a training tool, our Italian partner (ETA) edited the business model to be suited for the Italian market. ETA produced the Italian and English version of the business model. Furthermore, our French partner (Biomasse Normandie) adapted this model to the French market and translated into French.
ETA’s business model, the working instructions and the summary of Italian case studies are downloadable at the project’s website (www.biohousing.eu.com -> training material -> training in Italy). This material is published in Italian. Additionally, Biomasse Normandie’s business model and the working instructions in French are downloadable at the project’s website (www.biohousing.eu.com -> training material -> training in French).
Energy Service Entrepreneurship based on renewable energy resources
Market analysis together with business and best practices analysis were developed in five European countries. These analyses showed that each European country has its own specific conditions and options in the bioenergy market. Therefore, the companies establishing energy service entrepreneurship in each country may have some or many different characteristics.
In some countries / areas, a specific company composed by a small number of employees, with one professional specialization, should choose to establish a service for supplying maintenance services (which is the case for Finland with the chimney sweepers). In other countires / areas the option of an “all-inclusive” service integrating operation (with biomass supply and system monitoring), maintenance, 24-hours assistance, technical advising and maybe financing solutions would be the right entrepreneurship. The later option is suitable in Italy and France.
In Spain, with an initial lower potential of end-users interested in bioenergy during the following years, some more services in addition to those mentioned for Italy
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and France should be provided, as training courses for professionals’ education and maybe heat supply.
The consideration of integrating solar thermal energy with biomass energy is considered also in Austria, Italy, France and Spain. These mixed biomass-solar systems are already running in many European countries with success, even when the investment costs are high if compared to traditional fossil fuel or electricity systems.
One important coincidence in all countries is the necessity of specific training of the bioenergy entrepreneurship staff on these systems or equipment that will be supplied and maintained. It shouldn’t be forgotten that equipment manufactures and suppliers usually provide guarantees under the commitment of contracting qualified technical services. An Austrian company was analysed as a best practice case confirming this high necessity of education for providing guaranteed service.
Example of a bioenergy entrepreneur business analysis in Spain
Company profileAim of the company
The aim of the company will be to develop its activity in the framework of the renewables, supplying services related to biomass and solar thermal for heating and hot sanitary water production. The approach of the company will be according to each customer’s demand, so while some customers may need less service, some other could demand integrated supply of services.
Main areas of activity
The main areas of activity of the company will be one or several of the following ones:
● Biomass boilers and auxiliary systems supply● Solar systems and auxiliary systems supply● Maintenance, that could be from one-visit for corrective
maintenance to integrate maintenance● Biomass supply● Training courses for education of professionals● Advising, calculation and planning of heating systems● Thermal energy supply
Main products
The main products that will be supplied will be the following:
a) Biomass heating systems ● Biomass boilers ● Biomass equipment for storage and storage silos ● Accumulation systems ● Auxiliary equipment ● Heat produced with biomass heating systems
b) Solar thermal energy systems ● Solar collectors ● Accumulation vessels ● Auxiliary systems
c) Maintenance of biomass and solar heating systems ● Under a maintenance service contract (see Annex 1)
the company will supply from corrective maintenance to integrated predictive and preventive service.
d) Training and education ●Specific training to engineers, architects and
planners ● Specific training to installers ● Specific training to maintainers ● Other courses, as basic courses on biomass,
workshops, etc
e) Advising services ● Calculation of biomass and solar heating systems ● Advising on renewables energy systems for houses
and buildings ● Advising on regulations and financing for RES
Plan of marketing
Expected evolution of demand
In Spain, the application of the national Renewables Promotion Plan has as a global aim for the use of renewable energy sources covering 12% of the national energy demand. Biomass is the main renewable energy considered, reaching 58% of the total production with RES.
TARGET 2010Total Primary energy consumption ( Mtoe ) 134,97
Energy generation with RES ( Mtoe) 16,60 ( 12,3 % )Energy generation with biomass ( Mtoex ) 9,65 ( 58 % )
Table. Biomass use for energy production in Spain in 2010 (Source: Ministry of Industry)
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In Spain, potential biomass energy sources are calculated in the national Renewables Promotion Plan:
By 2010, 900,000 tep of the total biomass should be used in thermal applications.
Regarding solar thermal energy, Spain is favoured by the great potential available, the market capacity, the expertise of national manufacturers, the technological advances reached, and the tendencies in countries with similar environment as Spain. Moreover, the ratio of solar thermal surface for every 1,000 inhabitants is under the average of the European Union.
The application of the national Renewables Promotion Plan should lead to the increase of solar thermal collectors, reaching by 2010 a surface of 4,500,000 m2. This figure has been obtained considering the following aspects:
Considering a solar supply of 50%, and without any restrictions, the potential market for solar thermal energy is 27,000,000 m2, divided in the following sections:
● Residential: 20,000,000 m2 (7,000,000 m2 in one-family homes and 13,000,000 in multi- family homes).
● Hotels: 1,000,000 m2 ( considering 75 % solar supply)● Collective buildings: 300,000 m2 ( school, residences,
etc.)● Domestic new constructions: 5,000,000 m2
● Other applications: 500,000 m2 (swimming pools, industries, etc.)
Marketing strategy: customers, competitors and suppliers
Customers● Building sector: construction, promoters and building
managers● Buildings of flats● Buildings of offices● Sinlge-family houses● Groups of houses● Public institutions facilities● Industries
Production ( Year 2010 ) toeForestry wood residues 462,000Agricultural wood residues 670,000Agricultural herbaceous residues 660,000Forestry industries wastes 670,000Agricultural industrial residues 670,000Energy crops 1,908,300
Biomass use for energy production in Spain in 2010 (Source: Ministry of Industry)
Competitors
● Regarding competitors considering technologies, the main ones considered are
o Oil boilerso Gas boilerso Electrical boilers
● Regarding other companies business lines, the competitors would be
o Established biomass boilers suppliers, installers and maintenance companies
o Solar system suppliers, installers and maintenance companies
o Biomass supplierso Engineering and planning companies o Educational companies and institutionso Thermal energy supply
Suppliers
Main suppliers will be from the distributors of equipment, both biomass and solar. The main suppliers will be
● solar thermal systems suppliers; solar thermal equipment as boilers, accumulation tanks and auxiliary equipment are provided by a big number of companies in Spain
● biomass heating systems suppliers; main biomass heating systems suppliers could be shown in the BioHousing catalogue
Company development strategy
Strategic ObjectiveThe target strategic objectives are to introduce new products and services for heat and hot sanitary water supply by RES, reaching an increase in the incomes of at least 10% per year.
Product StrategyAll products provided by the company will be of medium to high quality, certified according to European and national norms. Professionals providing services will have background and certifications, in order to provide a good service to customers.
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Price Strategy
The costs of high quality equipment involve higher equipment costs.
Distribution Strategy (only for equipment)
The distribution of the products should be done through the following distribution channels:
● Direct: in the premises of the company
● Indirect: through agreements with manufacturers and biomass suppliers
● Internet: a virtual shop will be designed for internet supply (in some cases), with brochures and commercial information
Promotion StrategyIt will be considered a specific budget for promotion and dissemination, both for the new company image and the internet promotion. This could be done through press, radio and professional magazines.
Operations planIn the energy entrepreneurship two options could be considered, the launching of a new business line in an existing company, and the launching of a newly created company. In this last case, the steps to be followed would be:
● Definition of the number and type of stakeholders that will be involved in the company
● Analysis of market and establishment or a first business plan.
● Legal constitution of the company: address, contact details, legal form for the company, initial capital, etc.
Selection of the leader or director of the new company and other involved staff. This will be typically done by the management board of the company.
● Establishment of business contracts with suppliers
● Selection of additional staff and necessary resources.
● Training
● Enter into operation
● Possible action plan and company adjustments (changes in marketing plan, stakeholders, etc.)
● Fully enter into operation of the company (usually after 2 years)
Human resources
Management and staff
● The general manager of the company should be a professional with managerial and commercial skills.
● At least one engineer with typical specialization in energy
● A commercially skilled professional ● Technicians
Training
Technical Training is often provided by educational institutions and training experts from companies.
Offices, machines and materials
Premises (for a new company or a branch from an existing)
A good location for the new offices, with special access should be found. The driving of trucks in and out of the premises should be easy, as machines and biomass should be transported. Then, the headquarters should be in a place with good and wide communications by road.
Machinery and vehicles
It could be considered the following auxiliary machinery and vehicles for the company:● Machinery for lifting and moving the equipment and
the biomass● A truck or van for the transport of machines and
biomass
Economic and fincancial aspectsThe following tables show a preliminary economic and financial analysis of the company for the first five years.
Sales forecast
Forecast for the first five years years:
Yearly sales forecast in unitsYear 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Solar Energy 6 7 14 21 28
Internet 1 1 2 3 4
Direct 4 5 10 15 20Indirect 1 1 2 3 4
Biomass 3 3 6 9 12Internet 0 0 0 0 0Direct 2 2 4 6 8Indirect 1 1 2 3 4
Maintenance 1 1 1 1 1Direct 1 1 1 1 1
Training 1 1 2 3 5
Direct 1 1 2 3 5
Total 11 12 23 34 46
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Expenses forecast
The main expenses to be considered will be:● Renting of premises and other general costs: 30,000 –
40,000 Euro● Staff: 75,000 – 95,000 Euro● Promotion and advertising: 20,000 – 30,000 Euro
Balance
It can be seen that there is a profit from the third year of company operation, and it can also be determined that a stable increase in the sales will occur which could lead to an increase in the number of staff incorporating new employees.
Financial aspects
The financing of the company could be made through own funds provided by the shareholders and owners,
Results account
Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Sales 234,300 261,668 547,472 859,440 1,210,351Sales costs 150,550 164,740 341,050 529,565 729,490Gross margin 83,750 96,928 206,423 329,876 480,861Fixed costs Staff 78,848 81,844 84,954 88,183 91,534 Commercial costs 9,600 9,984 10,483 11,112 11,890 Marketing costs 12,000 13,200 14,256 15,396 16,628 General costs 31,200 32,160 33,459 35,132 36,889Profit before amortization -47,898 -40,261 63,270 180,053 323,921 Amortization 14,073 16,625 16,625 16,625 16,052Operation profit -61,971 -56,886 46,645 163,428 307,869 Financial Results -1,502 -840 -613 -400 -171 Capital subventions 6,000 0 0 0 0Profits before taxes -57,473 -57,726 46,032 163,028 307,697 Taxes 0 0 16,111 57,060 107,694Profits after taxes -57,473 -57,726 29,921 105,968 200,003
or by third party funds. Subsidies and soft loans should be carefully analysed when constituting a new company, as well as administrative issues. Usually, the SMEs office of the National or Regional Government could provide detailed information on this and other relevant aspects.
Legal aspects and other related issuesThe constitution of a new company involves the start of a new legal form and the future fulfilment of legal and administrative requirements. It should be selected carefully the kind of company that the stakeholders wish to constitute, as it could be a public limited company, limited company, sole trader, etc.
● Each one of these options has different requirements in each country.
In Spain, the main aspects for each legal form are
Legal form Number of shareeholders Capital ResponsibilitySole trader 1 - unlimitedCivil corporatoin 2 and more - unlimitedLimited company at least 1 3,006 Euros limited to capital contributed
Public limited company at least 1 60,101 Euros limited to capital contributedLabor limited company at least 3 3,006 Euros limited to capital contributedPublic labor limited company
at least 3 60,101 Euros limited to capital contributed
Cooperative at least 3 1,803 Euros limited to capital contributed
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The project consortium comprised project partners from five European countries (Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Austria). Additionally a Steering Committee supported the project implementation as well as monitored the progress of the project. The committee members brought the national needs and wishes to the project, helped to analyse the results critically and gave for the project a good channel to disseminate the achievements to high levels in the participating countries.
In the BioHousing-project, the role of the companies has been extremely close and important. Through the project several companies from house, heating technology and biomass industry in all participating countries have had very active role in the implementation of the project and they have showed great interest in the products and tools the project has produced.
Additonally, in several participating countries a national reference group was established to ascertain the best possible
2. Co-operation and dissemination
results. These national reference groups had representatives from house and biomass industry, e.g. house manufacturers, prefabricated boiler room unit manufacturers, fuel suppliers, fuel storage manufacturers, pellet associations and regional development companies.
All partners were responsible of the dissemination of the results. During the project there were several different channels to disseminate information.● project’s website● organising “Success Stories of Biomass Heating in
Small Scale” – seminar● participations at national and local exhibitions / fairs (a
stand)● oral project presentations at national and international
seminars / conferences / workshops● articles and press releases written by project members
or external journalist● interviews on radio● other printed material (posters, roll –up’s, leaflets,
brochures, business cards)
Our project team in Valladolid, Spain, October 2006.
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Additionally, the partners worked in close operation with other national and international projects and programmes. For example, EU Project REGBIE+ (www.regbieplus.eu) will use the Italian training documentations and the ETA business model for training and education purpose in Italy.
Project website
Project’s website is a user-friendly tool and contains all produced material published by the project during years 2006-2008. The website is open until the end of year 2010.
“Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale” – seminar
The “Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale” seminar was organised 28 October 2008 in Brussels, Belgium. The seminar presented the success stories of the BioHousing -project and focused on means to increase biomass heating in private houses and row houses both as central and auxiliary heating systems. The presentations promoted innovative and commercial applications as alternatives for consumers who want to invest in biomass heating. About 40 persons from 12 European countries
participated in the seminar. The presentations are downloadable at the project’s website.
Main conclusions of the seminar are
● Both web-based tools (Heating Tool and Catalogue) were highly praised. Participators underlined that these tools will really boost biomass heating in single-family houses.
● There is no one European wide solution to heat single-family houses. There are several alternatives for biomass heating in single-family houses. Therefore European technology transfer is very important. For example, automatic biomass central heating systems are well-advanced in Austria, there are several dozens of different Italian pellet stoves in the market and Finnish heat-retaining fireplaces are highly efficient.
● Prefabricated boiler room concepts have been now developed and the products are available in the market. To efficiently enter the European market further marketing activities are needed.
● Project partners were pleased that the decision to organise the final seminar was made in the project meeting year earlier. Even though the final seminar was not originally planned, it was an excellent method to disseminate the results at the end of the project. In future projects this dissemination method is worth to be remembered.
About 40 persons from 12 European countries partcipated in the seminar.
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Heating Tool & Catalogue business card
Business cards
For the “Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale” – seminar “business cards of Heating Tool and Catalogue” were printed to be distributed. These cards have been very successful way of information dissemination.
Main page of the BioHousing website (www.biohousing.eu.com)
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Additionally, the partners worked in close operation with other national and international projects and programmes. For example, EU Project REGBIE+ (www.regbieplus.eu) will use the Italian training documentations and the ETA business model for training and education purpose in Italy.
Project website
Project’s website is a user-friendly tool and contains all produced material published by the project during years 2006-2008. The website is open until the end of year 2010.
Photo. Main page of the BioHousing website (www.biohousing.eu.com)
“Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale” – seminar
The “Success Stories of Biomass Heating in Small Scale” seminar was organised 28th October 2008 in Brussels, Belgium. The seminar presented the success stories of the BioHousing -project and focused on means to increase biomass heating in private houses and row houses both as central and auxiliary heating systems. The presentations promoted innovative and commercial applications as alternatives for consumers who want to invest in biomass heating. About 40 persons from 12 European countries participated in the seminar. The presentations are downloadable at the project’s website.
Main conclusions of the seminar are
• Both web-based tools (Heating Tool and Catalogue) were highly praised. Participators underlined that these tools will really boost biomass heating in single-family houses.
• There is no one European wide solution to heat single-family houses. There are several alternatives for biomass heating in single-family houses. Therefore European technology transfer is very important. For example, automatic biomass central heating systems are well-advanced in Austria, there are several dozens of different Italian pellet stoves in the market and Finnish heat-retaining fireplaces are highly efficient.
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Out-door pellet info day in Hirvaskangas, Central Finland (10.10.2008)
Other dissemination activities
The BioHousing - project has been presented at national and international info days, exhibitions, fairs, seminars, conferences, workshops etc. Organising these events has required a lot of work but participation at these events has enabled a wide dissemination of the project’s results. Partners have produced different kinds of dissemination material for these events (leaflets, brochures, posters, roll-up’s etc.). Also the oral project presentations at several events have raised a lot of interest towards the tools and information material produced during the project.
One example about the national info day is the out-door pellet info day in Hirvaskangas, Central Finland, on Friday afternoon on 10 October 2008. The event was organised during the Central Finland bioenergy info week. Several pellet actors (fuel producer, heating equipment manufacturers, installers etc.) informed visitors about pellet heating as a central heating system and as an auxiliary heating system. On the site there was a bus which was furnished with 10-15 sizes of pellet stoves. Additionally, people were able to visit 4–5 sites to learn about pellet heating in practise. The day was organised by Jyväskylä Innovation Ltd and Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
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European Commission –Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)Mr. Damien Cocard, project officerMail: European Commission, MADO 04/109, B-1049 BRUSSELS, BelgiumOffice: Place Madou 1, Office 04/109, B-1020 BRUSSELS, [email protected]://ec.europa.eu/intelligentenergyhttp://ec.europa.eu/eaci
Jyväskylä Innovation LtdMs. Tytti Laitinen, coordinatorP.O. Box 27 (Piippukatu 11)FI-40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, [email protected]
VTT – Technical Research Centre of FinlandMs. Eija AlakangasP.O.Box 1603 (Koivurannantie 1)FI-40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, [email protected]
Jyväskylä University of Applied SciencesMr. Pekka ÄänismaaKolkanlahdentie 280,FI-43250 KOLKANLAHTI, [email protected]
ETA – Energia, Transporti, Agricoltura srlMr. Lorenzo CorbellaPiazza Savonarola 10I-50132 FLORENCE, [email protected]
EACI contract person and BioHousing partners
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5. EACI contract person and BioHousing partners European Commission – Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) Mr. Damien Cocard, project officer Mail: European Commission, MADO 04/109, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium Office: Place Madou 1, Office 04/109, B-1020 Brussels, Belgium [email protected] http://ec.europa.eu/intelligentenergyhttp://ec.europa.eu/eaci
Jyväskylä Innovation Ltd Ms. Tytti Laitinen, coordinator P.O. Box 27 (Piippukatu 11) FI-40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland [email protected]
VTT – Technical Research Centre of Finland Ms. Eija Alakangas P.O.Box 1603 (Koivurannantie 1) FI-40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland [email protected] www.vtt.fi
Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences Mr. Pekka Äänismaa Kolkanlahdentie 280, FI-43250 KOLKANLAHTI, Finland [email protected] www.jamk.fi
ETA – Energia, Transporti, Agricoltura srlMr. Lorenzo Corbella Piazza Savonarola 10 I-50132 Florence, Italy [email protected] www.etaflorence.it
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Biomasse Normandie - Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie Mr. Jimmy Pennequin19 quai de juilletF-14000 CAEN, Francej.pennequin@biomasse-normandie.orgwww.biomasse-normandie.org
ESCAN - ESCAN, S.A.Mr. Francisco Puente-SalveAvda. El Ferrol, 14-B3,S-28029 MADRID, [email protected]
ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und TechnikMs. Angelika RubickFranz Grill Strasse 5,A-1030 WIEN, [email protected]
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Biomasse Normandie - Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie Mr. Jimmy Pennequin 19 quai de juillet F-14000 CAEN, France [email protected] www.biomasse-normandie.org
ESCAN - ESCAN, S.A.Mr. Francisco Puente-Salve Avda. El Ferrol, 14-B3, S-28029 MADRID, Spain [email protected] www.escansa.com
ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und TechnikMs. Angelika Rubick Franz Grill Strasse 5, A-1030 WIEN, Austria [email protected] www.ofi.at
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Biomasse Normandie - Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie Mr. Jimmy Pennequin 19 quai de juillet F-14000 CAEN, France [email protected] www.biomasse-normandie.org
ESCAN - ESCAN, S.A.Mr. Francisco Puente-Salve Avda. El Ferrol, 14-B3, S-28029 MADRID, Spain [email protected] www.escansa.com
ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und TechnikMs. Angelika Rubick Franz Grill Strasse 5, A-1030 WIEN, Austria [email protected] www.ofi.at
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Biomasse Normandie - Association Regionale Biomasse Normandie Mr. Jimmy Pennequin 19 quai de juillet F-14000 CAEN, France [email protected] www.biomasse-normandie.org
ESCAN - ESCAN, S.A.Mr. Francisco Puente-Salve Avda. El Ferrol, 14-B3, S-28029 MADRID, Spain [email protected] www.escansa.com
ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und TechnikMs. Angelika Rubick Franz Grill Strasse 5, A-1030 WIEN, Austria [email protected] www.ofi.at
The BioHousing –project group in Wienna in November 2007
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In the BioHousing-project, the aim was to promote and produce systems which enable private house owners to use sustainable bioenergy. Additionally the aim was to raise awareness that biomass based heating systems are considered as realistic and convenient alternative for heating private houses.
There are almost 24 million single-family houses altogether in Finland, Austria, France, Italy and Spain. If owners and new house builders would increase their use of solid biomass fuels, the greenhouse gas emissions caused by private houses could be reduced considerably. The choice of the heating form is one of the most important and long lasting decisions, the house builder has to make. In addition to environmental effects, the choice impacts also on the costs and comfortableness of living. In the BioHousing-project, we have developed and produced concepts and tools as well as information material for private house builders and house owners to enable their use of sustainable biomass and solar heating.
The BioHousing-project was co-financed by the Intelligent Energy – Europe programme of the European Com-mission (2006-2008).
More information:
www.biohousing.eu.com
Jyväskylä Innovation Oy, P.O. Box 27, FI - 40101 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FinlandTel. +358 14 4451 100, fax +358 14 4451 199www.jklinnovation.fi