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CFE's Case Studies

Farm Expansion – Containerised heating system & shed heaters 

Sector - Agriculture, poultry 

 

Region  - South Lincolnshire 

 

Background - With stocking density reduction on the existing 4 shed broiler facility, an opportunity arose for 2 new additional sheds adjacent to the existing 4 sheds. Existing heating consisted of 1 x Linka straw fired 995 kW boiler backed up with externally mounted direct fired Hired Hand LPG heaters on each shed.  

 

Challenge  - Extend existing heating system serving 4 No. broiler sheds to cater for additional 2 new sheds. Mitigate the direct fired Hired Hand LPG heaters to provide dry heat bac up. Provide centralised back up via the wet system and fan coil heater in each shed to maintain consistent dry heat. Maximise straw /biomass as the main source of fuel via load sharing controls. Other factors include fuel security, carbon reduction  and RHI income streams / ROI 

 

Solution  - New containerised boiler room housing 2 x 800 kW Hoval Ultragas boilers, low loss header and associated mechanical/electrical systems. Heat from the biomass boiler re piped into the new boiler room and distributed via pre insulated underground pipework.  Load sharing controls designed to maximise straw using LPG  to meet the peak demand and provide full back up. Another consideration for the containerised boiler room was fire separation  from the straw boiler room and store. Heat in the new sheds is distributed via Multiheat hot water fan coils. 

 

Main components  - Containerised boiler room, 2 x Hoval 800kW Ultragas LPG boilers, pre insulated underground pipework, Multiheat shed internal fan coil heat emitters, load sharing controls and integration.  

Scope - Turn key project, coordinating with main building contractors, groundworkers, electricians and controls engineers.

 

Annual energy usage  - 3,000,000 kWh 

Estimated energy mix - 80% biomass, 20% LPG

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Farm Expansion - New heating system

Sector - Agriculture, poultry 

Region  - Lincolnshire 

Background - With stocking density reduction on the existing 4 shed broiler facility, an opportunity arose for 2 new additional sheds adjacent to the existing 4 sheds. Existing heating consisted of 1 x Linka straw fired 995 kW boiler backed up with 1 x centralised Potterton LPG 1500 kW boiler 

 

Challenge  - Extend existing heating system serving 4 No. broiler sheds to cater for additional 2 new sheds. Provide coil heater in each new shed to maintain consistent dry heat.  Maximise straw /biomass as the main source of fuel via load sharing controls. Other factors include fuel security, carbon reduction  and RHI income streams / ROI 

Solution - Connect the 2 new shed to the existing Low loss header with new pumps, and associated mechanical/electrical systems. Heat from the biomass boiler re piped into the new boiler room and distributed via pre insulated underground pipework.  Load sharing controls designed to maximise straw using LPG  to meet the peak demand and provide full back up. Heat in the new sheds is distributed via Multiheat hot water fan coils. 

 

Main components  - Boiler room pipework, pumps and controls. Pre insulated underground pipework, across to new sheds, Multiheat shed internal fan coil heat emitters, load sharing controls and integration.  

 

Scope  - Turn key project, coordinating with main building contractors, groundworkers, electricians and controls engineers. 

 

Annual energy usage  - 3,100,000 kWh 

Estimated energy mix - 80% biomass, 20% LPG 

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New Farm – Grade A waste wood heating system & AHUs

Sector  - Agriculture, poultry 

Region  - Lancashire 

Background - Demand from Preston based  integrator Gaffour lead  an existing independent grower to seek  planning application for a new 5 shed broiler facility on a greenfield site, owned land, local to an existing broiler production facility.  

 

Challenge  - Meet the new sites energy demands with sustainable, low cost, low carbon technologies whilst delivering a good ROI to satisfy owners and banks. Fuel costs and supply  to be as stable as possible. 

 

Solution - Heat: Having reviewed all fuel sources including manure, Identifying good availability of grade A recycled timber formed the foundation of the scheme.  A centralised boiler building housing biomass boiler plant , heavy duty walking floor fuel feed and Kerosene back up provides hot water via pre insulated underground pipework to each new shed. High capacity AHU’s within the sheds distribute heat with integrated hot water control valves and variable speed distribution fans. 

Electrical consumption for the site is partially met by a 500 kW PV array (by others) 

 

Main components  - Justen 1.6 MW biomass boiler system, complete with walking floor& bag filter.  2 x ICI Caldare 800 kW kerosene boilers integrated to provide centralised  back up. Boiler room pipework, pumps, associated mechanical / electrical components  and controls. Pre insulated underground pipework, across to new sheds.  2 x CFE Air handling units / shed providing space heating / air mixing, controlled via the poultry house climate control computer.  

 

Scope  - Turn key heat system project, coordinating with main building contractors, groundworkers, electricians and controls engineers. 

 

Annual energy usage  - 4,500,000 kWh 

Estimated energy mix - 90% biomass, 10% Kerosene

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Biomass straw heating system

Sector - Agriculture, poultry

Region - Yorks

Challenge - Utilise a local sustainable, low carbon fuel source to manage fuel costs.

Solution - Automated straw heating system, fuel sourced within 4 mile radius. 

Fuel type – Heston bale Straw & Miscanthus

Main components – Justsen/Reka  1MW

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 2,100,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving  – 418,656 kg

Wood pellet heating system

Sector - Agriculture, poultry

Region - Lincs

Challenge - New build site – Design an easy to manage low carbon heating system

Solution – Packaged plant room boiler system, district heating system serving multiple buildings, internal M&E including fan coil heat emitters & controls

Fuel type – Wood pellet

Main components – Hoval 975 kW boiler

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 2,400,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving – 478,464 kg

Waste wood heating system

Sector - Horticulture

Region - Lincs

Challenge – Design & install  a boiler system to utilise stable priced grade A&B waste wood within the existing space envelope, to minimise fossil fuel usage

Solution – Remove existing plant, alter building, install new 3MW waste wood boiler system and ancillaries.

Fuel type –  Recycled waste wood

Main components – Justsen 3MW boiler

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 18,000,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving - 3,588,480 kg

Manure heating system

Sector - Agriculture

Region - Shropshire

Challenge – Utilise low value poultry manure as an energy source to meet stringent legislation surrounding manure combustion

Solution – Stand alone new building housing the manure store, automated Top Loader  fuel feed and fluidised bed boiler system serving 6 No poultry houses. Underground pre insulated heating mains and internal poultry house  fan coils systems, integrated controls

Fuel type – Poultry manure

Main components – FBC 750 kW boiler & automated Top Loader fuel feed system

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 4,500,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving  - 897,120 kg

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Virgin wood chip heating system

Sector - Agriculture

Region - Wiltshire

Challenge – Explore low carbon heating  options for a new build site

Solution – Based on the good local availability of price stable virgin wood chip, design & install a wood chip heating system with pre insulated underground heating mains, internal fan coil heat emitters and integrated controls

Fuel type – Virgin wood chip

Main components – Herz Biofire 1MW boiler, ICI Caldare LPG 1MW

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 1,500,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving  - 299,040 kg

AD plant - utilising rejected heat

Sector – Energy/power production

Region - Norfolk

Challenge – Utilise 500 kW of  rejected heat from an existing AD plant to serve a proposed Heston straw bale drier rejected from a local straw fired power station

Solution – Divert rejected heat to a new underground heating mains serving a straw bale drier system.

Fuel type – Rejected waste heat from existing AD plant

Heat use – Straw drying plant serving local power station

Main components – mechanical pipework, heat exchangers, electrical & controls

Annual rejected heat mitigation – 3,200,000 kwh/yr

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Packaged plant room (13x4m) Heating

Sector - Agriculture

Region - Cambs

Challenge – Displace existing fossil fuel heating with low carbon and more stable priced fuel

Solution – Packaged plant room boiler system, district heating system serving multiple buildings, internal M&E including fan coil heat emitters & controls

Fuel type – Pellet

Main components – Packaged  1MW plant room -pellet boiler

Scope – Turn key project

Annual energy usage – 1,600,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving  - 318,976 kg

Utilise rejected heat from existing AD plant

Sector – Food production / Agriculture

Region – S Lincs

Challenge – Utilise 500 kW of  rejected heat from an existing AD plant to heat  poultry facility approx. 350m away.

Solution – Divert rejected heat from AD plant engine room to a new underground heating mains terminating in a containerised heat station adjacent to the poultry facility. Distribute heat into the individual poultry houses via pumped circuits & = wall mounted finned pipe heat emitters.

Fuel type – Rejected waste heat from existing AD plant

Heat use – Modern poultry farm

Main components – Mechanical pipework, heat exchangers, electrical & controls

Annual rejected heat mitigation – 2,800,000 kwh/yr

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Heat Recovery - Green herb drier

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Sector – Food processing
Region – Suffolk
Challenge – Increase efficiency, reduce fuel cost and carbon from an existing green leaf LPG fired herb drying facility.
Solution – Design & install an efficient heat recovery system around the existing LPG belt drier system
Fuel type – Reduce LPG usage
Main components – Hoval cross flow air to air heat exchange matrix, housed in bespoke cabinets. Ducting & exhaust system, filtration & controls 
Scope – Turn key project
Annual energy Savings – 93,750 Litres LPG
Annual Carbon saving  - 21,562 Tonnes

Multi-site Biomass Straw Heating System

Sector - Agriculture, poultry

Region -Lincs

Challenge – Reduce LPG costs and carbon emissions for a large scale poultry producer across 4 No. separate farm sites. Reduce reliance on unstable fossil fuels

Solution – 4 No. Automated straw heating system & district heating networks serving 24 No. buildings total, utilising home produced straw fuel

Main components – 4 No. 1.6MW Justsen boilers/Reka straw feed & chopper systems , pre insulated underground pipework, shed internal fan coil heat emitters.

Scope – Turn key project, coordinating with main building contractors, electricians and controls engineers.

Annual energy usage – 8,400,000 kWh

Annual Carbon saving  – 1.824 T/yr

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