John O' Groat Journal
Summary
A low-carbon district heating scheme in Wick is helping hundreds of householders to avoid the worst excesses of fuel poverty – and its operators believe there is potential for it to be extended further.
The sustainable energy centre owned by Ignis Wick Ltd provides heating and hot water to around 200 homes in the Pulteneytown area as well as to Caithness General Hospital and the Assembly Rooms, and it supplies steam to the adjacent Pulteney Distillery.
Ignis burns around 700 tonnes of locally sourced wood chip each month and the heat is distributed through a 10.5km network of underground pipes.
“Savings-wise it's immense compared to gas and oil in the current market,” manager Harris Gilmore said. “Some people might pay more, some some might pay less, but the average cost to the customers is about £500 a year for their hot water and heating.”
There could be scope for an expansion of the biomass scheme, depending on the level of interest.
Mr Gilmore explained: “For us, it's gauging what interest there is. If I get substantial interest, it'll be a fair indicator that we need to really do something about it.”
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