Sustainable Development Initiative to Convert Coal Fired Boilers to Burn Wood Pellets

Newbridge High School is proud of the achievements it has made in respect of supporting our environment and the innovative way that they have achieved a sustainable development project.

Their new wood pellet burning boiler house is part of a 'Green Oscar' award and was recently shown on BBC television.

Heating System

Until last summer, heating of the main school building was provided by fossil fuels (coal).  Growing awareness of environmental issues meant that fossil fuel was becoming less acceptable, with coal and oil the most polluting fuels in terms of carbon dioxide emissions (the main greenhouse gas) and sulphur dioxide (one of the causes of acid rain).

Ashwell Engineering Services Ltd conducted a site appraisal and recommended the conversion of the existing boilers to run on wood pellets, by doing so the school has reduced CO" emissions to the atmosphere by 300 tonnes per year.

School Energy Team - Energy Certification for Schools

The school set up an energy team in accordance with the Energy Certification for Schools.

Members of the energy team consisted of Year 9 pupils, site manager, business manager and a school governor.

The scheme promotes energy management and efficiency for the whole school community.

Work has included links between the school curriculum and the management of energy efficiency and design of school posters.

Boiler Conversion

During the summer of 2003 Ashwell Engineering Services Ltd., manufactured and installed two of their GREEN-TEC range of wood pellet conversion kits, into the two existing 600kW output Hartley & Sugden White Rose boilers.

The original bunkers were thoroughly cleaned an new bunkers for the wood pellets were built within the original area.

The Ashwell GREEN-TEC conversions are fully automatic and include automatic ignition and full modulation which has increased efficiency by approximately 20%.

The picture opposite shows the two Ashwell GREEN-TEC wood pellet stokers at Newbridge feeding two 600kW Hartley & Sugden White Rose Boilers.

When the Hartley & Sugden boilers were coal fired the efficiencies were measured at 60%.  After the installation of the Ashwell GREEN-TEC wood pellet conversion measured efficiencies of 83% were achieved with 300 tonnes per year CO2 reduction.

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