Safety clearance sparks biomass boilers for schools row

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 08:58

AN argument over an environmentally-friendly heating system, which was prevented from being installed in Edinburgh schools because of health fears, has been reignited.

Newly-published guidance reveals that the Scottish Government "encourages" the use of biomass boilers in the battle against climate change, as research shows they are not in fact harmful to humans if used alongside the correct technologies.

The boilers were due to be installed in seven new Edinburgh schools, but the order was stopped by the council in 2007 amid concerns that emissions, called particulates, generated by them could cause breathing problems.

Following the new report, calls are being made for council chiefs to go back to the original plan and install the biomass system into five new secondary and two primary schools, including Bonaly Primary and Broughton High which have already opened with alternative heating.

The council, however, is so far refusing to make a commitment.

Councillor Andrew Burns, the city's Labour group leader, says there is no reason to stop the boilers being introduced.

He believes the decision to halt the installation of biomass boilers was actually down to cost and that the safety concerns were just a "smokescreen".

He said: "Although there can be issues with the particulates, if you have got proper abatement technologies, ie chimneys and proper filtering systems, then it's fine. This was always known and this is what we kept trying to point out.

"Officers were never keen on this when we were in charge. This was a completely unnecessary cancellation and it was for financial reasons.

"Given that's now been confirmed, my question is will they now accept that this technology will be fitted in the PPP2 schools, including the two which are already open, as they said they would?"

Biomass boilers were originally chosen for the new PPP2 schools because, unlike traditional gas boilers, no CO2 is released during the heating process.

A council spokeswoman said today: "We have received a copy of the new guidance on air quality management which has just been published. We will be considering this carefully before making any decisions on how to proceed."

Contractor Axiom is building the new schools earmarked for biomass under the PPP2 contract – Bonaly Primary, Juniper Green Primary, Craigroyston High, Forrester High, St Augustine's High, Holy Rood High, Broughton High and Tynecastle High.

Tynecastle will get its heating via the excess hot water produced by the neighbouring North British Distillery.

The Scottish Government says biomass has "an important role to play" as it "strives to meet and exceed its ambitious renewables targets in the coming years".

A spokeswoman added: "While the Scottish Government is keen to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency within schools, it is not for Government to suggest a particular type of heating system for schools.

"These are decisions for the local authorities and their professional advisers."