Balcombe Estate

Commission: A 200kW Herz Firematic boiler was installed to supply the various buildings at Balcombe Estate, including the Manor House nursing home and the Old Stables, now used as an office complex. Pre-insulated high efficiency heat main was fitted to supply the various properties, and a new timber-clad boiler house and wood chip store were built to house the system. The district heating system was extended in 2018 to include 3 further properties on the estate.

Boiler Type: Herz Biomatic 220kW

Fuel Type: Wood chip

Fuel Storage: Semi-buried silo, with the wood chip moving via auger to the boiler.

CO2 emission reduction: 3745 tonnes over 20 years

Case History: Balcombe Estate in West Sussex was built in 1865 by John Hankey of Naylands. It was passed down through the family before becoming the headquarters of the Women's Land Army at the start of World War II. Today, the main Manor House nursing home provides quality care and support for up to 40 residents, including permanent, palliative and respite care, whilst the converted stable block serves a variety of other businesses.

Date Completed: November 2009

  • The Balcombe Estate is a multi-enterprise Estate in the heart of Mid-Sussex. A biomass system was a natural choice for us, with an abundance of waste wood we can utilise, plus the benefits of the income from the renewable heat incentive – this made it not only an economic, but an equally attractive investment for the Estate. Our boiler has been installed since 2010; Douch Biomass carried out the original installation, and the workmanship and quality is brilliant. Since then, we have asked them to service the boiler every year, and provide additional support when required. We continue to use Douch as the quality of service is unsurpassed; irrespective of whatever my request is, nothing is ever too much trouble for them.

    Tom Hyde - Balcombe Estate

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