Nursing home group goes Green

Spa Nursing Homes Limited converting four care homes to wood pellet fuel in 2014

Spa Nursing Homes selected Green Energy Technology Ltd., (GET) to convert their care homes from heating oil to wood pellet fuel. The first home has been completed, with GET installing an award winning Hargassner wood pellet boiler in a turn-key plant room at The Spa Nursing Home in county Down.

This 'GET Heat Module' is constructed off site, to minimise disruption at the nursing home. Once it is delivered to site, it can be connected to the building and provide heat within 2 days. During this time there is no interruption to the existing heating performance.

In addition to the nursing home in The Spa, GET will be converting homes in Crumlin, Carryduff and Ballynahinch from heating oil to wood pellets.

Externally the GET Heat Module is finished to a high standard, and is linked to a wood pellet silo. Any external pipework is insulated and protected.

The main driver for the installation of these systems at Spa Nursing Homes Limited is the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The RHI pays the owners of wood pellet boilers for every unit of heat the boiler generates, this is an incentive for switching from fossil fuels. Although there are no grants to assist with the capital costs, the quarterly incentive payments mean that these projects have a payback of 4 years or less.

Damien Phillips, Project Manager at GET, stated: 'The four nursing home conversions represent a large investment by the group, however, there is a relatively short payback due to the RHI. Looking at the longer term, using Hargassner boilers means we have a high-tech solution requiring minimal involvement by nursing home staff, and GET has the ability to monitor each boiler remotely.'

The Hargassner wood pellet boiler is integrated with a complete plant room package.

The RHI scheme lasts for 20 years, and payments are index linked. In addition to the financial benefits of switching to wood pellets, it also means the nursing homes will reduce their environmental impact and help support local jobs. All pellets will be sourced from the island of Ireland.

Chris Arnold, from Spa Nursing Homes Ltd., commented; 'Overall the experience of moving away from heating oil has been relatively straightforward. Once we examined the financials and the overall benefits, it was an easy decision to make. We wanted a quality installation, Hargassner and GET met our requirements. GET took care of everything, right through to claiming the RHI payments. We are looking forward to working with GET on the rest of our properties.'

Damien Phillips continued; 'With a twenty year government incentive it is important that a quality product is used. Hargassner boilers are design to last. They are tried and tested, and if properly maintained they will last well over 30 years'.

Green Energy Technology Ltd. are based in Waringstown, between Banbridge and Lurgan, and have a showroom open to the public with working models of all technologies. Their previous biomass heating projects include Castlewellan Castle, Moy Park Poultry farm, as well as factories, offices and accomodation.

For enquiries contact Damien on 02838881228 or damien(at)get-renewables.com

GET Heat Module - Renewable Heat Incentive

GET Heat Module

Craigavon firm Green Energy Technology has developed a unique range of mobile boiler rooms, specifically designed to run on wood pellets and wood chip

All equipment inside their GET Heat Module is accredited by the government Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, and Green Energy Technology are accredited installers.

The RHI scheme provides financial support to businesses switching from heating oil or gas. The scheme provides support for 20 years. Each wood pellet or wood chip boiler will have a heat meter fitted, and the business owner will be paid based on the heat output and size of boiler.

John Martin, Damien Phillips and Patrick Flynn

16 tonne wood pellet store with auger

At the moment, these quarterly government payments represent a guaranteed 12-14% return on investment.

Damien Phillips, Commercial Manager at Green Energy Technology, commented;

“A combination of huge rises in fossil fuel prices, the security of wood pellet supply, and the Renewable Heat Incentive, has meant we have never been busier. Renewable heating systems now represent a very attractive option for businesses and community groups. Paybacks on these systems can be as low as 5 years. The GET heat module allows a business to switch to renewable heating with the minimum of fuss”

The latest GET Heat Module built by Green Energy Technology houses a 200kW wood pellet boiler, 16 tonne wood pellet store, 3000 litre hot water storage tank, alongside all the controls and pumps needed to run the boiler. This module will be heating a large office complex and call centre. The business installing the module will be able to cancel their fossil fuel bill, switch to cheaper wood pellets, and benefit from quarterly RHI payments.

200kW Hargassner Wood Pellet Boiler

The GET Heat Modules are entirely built at the Green Energy Technology complex outside Craigavon. This has allowed the company to employ local labour, and use local suppliers. Off site construction is quicker and minimises disruption to businesses, schools, care homes and community buildings. Once constructed and transported, the module simply needs to be plumbed in and wired up. Renewable heat is available within one day, instead of the weeks it can take to put an equivalent system together on-site.

The modules can house boilers from 15 to 200kW, and multiple modules can be fitted together for larger requirements. The smallest module takes up no more than a single car parking space.

Green Energy Technology Limited are based in Waringstown, Craigavon where they have a complex with showroom, conference suite, offices and working models of renewable technology. Company Directors, Patrick Flynn and John Martin, have been involved in renewable energy from 2002. The company installs;

-          Biomass heating systems

-          Wind turbines

-          Solar hot water systems

-          Solar electricity panels

-          Air source heat pumps

Wood Pellet Heating & Solar Photovoltaic - County Down

Pictures of a recent installation outside Banbridge 

Galvanised steel 3.5 tonne wood pellet storage bin

Grant 'Black Flue' system - for condensing wood pellet boiler

4kWp SHARP Solar Photovoltaic / Solar Electric system

Integrated 110kg hopper connected to 3.5 tonne bin - fully automatic feed

Automatic de-ashing

Self washing

Grant Spira 9 - 36kW condensing wood pellet boiler - up to 95% efficient

Green Energy Technology are accredited G-One Grant Spira installers