October 13, 2024 Conservation, Pellet Boilers

Biomass Heating at Colchester Zoo – a Biomass Boiler Case Study 

It’s a case study on biomass energy – with a wild twist. 

At Innasol, we’re used to supplying biomass heating systems to remote locations in the UK. From the highlands of Scotland to Wales’s wild northwest, we’ve seen wild Britain first hand. This challenge, however, was probably the wildest of them all – not least of all because our clients have more feathers and furs than our usual patrons. 

This biomass energy case study comes straight from Colchester Zoo: home to over 1,200 delightful creatures (and the dedicated army of humans that care for them). 

• Featured Systems: ETA ePeK 120, ETA PC50s and 2x ETA ePeK 180s 
• Installation Partner: LC Energy 

The Mission: deliver an effective commercial biomass heating system to Colchester Zoo 

As part of Colchester Zoo’s ‘Green Zoo’ initiative, self-sufficiency and reduced emissions have been at the heart of the zoo’s sustainability programme. 

To make just one part of this project a reality, we had the privilege of being invited to the zoo, along with our installation partner, LC Energy. 

The zoo had a number of over-arching goals for an ambitious biomass heating system: 

1. To deliver heating in locations across its entire estate, encompassing over 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes: a challenge to achieve with conventional gas and oil heaters. 
2. To provide heating not only for offices and guest facilities, but also animal enclosures, whilst also maintaining high levels of air quality. 
3. To move towards carbon-neutrality by reducing carbon emissions from heating. 
4. To install a more reliable commercial biomass heating system that facilities staff could maintain themselves. 

People are sensitive to temperature – animals are even more so. This is a biomass heating system that had to deliver reliably at scale. 

A zoo previously burnt by biomass heating 

An effective biomass heating system is an incredible apparatus – but only if it gets the care and attention it deserves. 

Colchester Zoo certainly didn’t lack the space for biomass boilers, and the ambition to move to a more sustainable method of heating was certainly there. 

However, the zoo had been burnt by commercial biomass heating gone wrong. They had been serviced poor-quality equipment and installation, and they struggled to source parts and trained people to maintain their boilers. 

Once bitten, twice shy – we were determined to put it right. 

The Solution – laying the groundwork for successful long-term biomass heating 

Successfully installing a biomass heating system for a facility of this size was a unique challenge. We relied on the building of a bespoke, double-containerised plantroom to house the biomass boilers. 

Each container in this plantroom holds an ETA ePeK 120 boiler, as well as dedicated fuel stores. We fitted two 2,200 litre buffers, then, we removed half of the dividing wall between the containers to create a single plantroom. 

As air quality was a particular client concern, we fitted each boiler with an electrostatic precipitator to filter the air. This provides exceptional air quality for a particular zoo attraction that receives over 8,000 daily visitors. 

Having installed the boilers successfully, the key was to ensure that they would perform flawlessly thereafter. To that end, we have made use of ETA’s MeinETA remote access functionality to remotely monitor and manage the boilers’ efficiency. We also gave the zoo peace of mind by providing a consignment of spare parts and trained facilities staff in their installation. 

From order to delivery, we completed this work in 10 weeks, with only a few days on site to commission and test the biomass heating system. 

The verdict: we’ve been pleased to see how satisfied Colchester Zoo been with our service. They have since installed a second pair of containerised plantrooms containing two ETA ePeK 180 boilers, and replaced failing boilers from a previous installation with ETA PC50 systems. 

A pioneering biomass boiler case study that’s still in action 

This intriguing case study on biomass energy is still a work in progress, so there’s plenty more news to come. So far, we’ve provided biomass heating (with back up) to: 

• The renovated guest reception areas 
• The zoo gift shop 
• Staff offices 
• The Animal Hospital 

• Select other heat-critical areas. 

The zoo is in an exciting phase of expansion, and we are privileged to be alongside them for the next phase of the journey. 

If you have the fortune to work at a Zoo, a sanctuary or a rescue centre (particularly if you’re off grid) we’re up to the challenge to provide reliable commercial biomass heating solutions with long-term viability. 

To book your free, no obligation biomass boiler survey, contact us today!