Chopper pump saves district heating scheme Euro60k a year
18 Jun 2012
Callan, Ireland – A community-owned district heating scheme in Ireland save around 60,000 Euros a year through using a chopper pump is helping to handle heavy-duty, mixed waste, including slurries and fats for its anaerobic digester biogas plant.
Renewable energy generated by the plant, which serves local residents and a village hall in the area. However, its primary beneficiary is the nearby school run by Camphill Communities of Ireland, part of an international charitable trust that works with people who have intellectual disabilities and other kinds of special needs.
The facility, which is operated by Beoffs in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, employs a long-shaft Landia pump to handle sewage sludge, food waste and various greases, as well as dairy slurry from three local farms.
“This is hardly the easiest process for a pump, but the Landia unit has proved extremely reliable and effective, despite everything we’ve thrown at it,” Jimmy Chadwick, plant manager at Beoffs.
Chadwick explained that this local community district heating system also provides valuable digestate/fertiliser to those farmers who have first provided the dairy slurry for the DAFF-approved AD plant. The Beoff plant also benefits from income generated by a gate fee for the waste it takes in.
Pioneered by war refugees in Scotland almost 70 years ago, Camphill today in the Republic of Ireland comprises 18 communities, home to around 500 people, plus day attendees. Worldwide, there are 100 Camphill communities in 20 countries.
Caring for the land is an integral part of Camphill’s work. Communities practice bio-dynamic agriculture, offering first-hand opportunities for its people to learn organic farming and gardening methods.
