Windhager UK’s new technology biomass boilers have been installed to provide the heating and hot water to Scotland’s oldest hotel.
The Salutation Hotel in Perth, one of seven hotels in the Strathmore Group, dates back to 1699 and is now Scotland’s longest established hotel. The hotel joined the group in 1991 and has undergone some great refurbishments, including the installation of a 360kW Windhager biomass heating system, to make it the hotel it is today.
Two 180kW Windhager BioWIN Excel Kaskade systems were installed by Newcastle-based installers, Green Guru NE, to provide heating and hot water to the 84-bedroom hotel. This replaced the hotel’s gas-fuelled system to offer a greener solution to heating whilst significantly reducing its carbon footprint and energy costs.
Gerry Hamill, Property Manager at the Strathmore Hotels Group commented, “Reputedly being the oldest and longest running hotel in Scotland, we are very pleased to see The Salutation Hotel is now efficiently operating using the newest form of renewable energy. The hotel has been refurbished and expanded to offer more rooms, which has increased the level of heat and hot water now required for the property. We were advised by the team at Green Guru NE that installing Windhager’s wood pellet biomass boilers would not only provide a more economical solution to our heating, but would help to reduce our carbon emissions whilst providing a high level of comfortable heat for our guests.”
He continued, “Since the installation we have been very impressed with the reliability and performance of the boilers and we have noticed a great improvement in the heating supplied. The installation by Green Guru NE was very efficient and did not disrupt the running of the hotel. We would happily recommend Windhager’s biomass boilers to any other hotels or property owners that are looking to boost their green credentials and improve their heating systems.” 
The installation reflects the Strathmore Group’s commitment to sustainability, which has won the hotels in the group the Green Business Tourism – Silver and Bronze Awards yearly since 2006. In 2015, the group replaced the heating systems in all of its hotels with an installation of 36 Windhager BioWIN Excel wood pellet boilers across the seven hotels.
The group saw many benefits in converting its heating systems to biomass, including the significant reduction in carbon emissions, minimised energy costs and the ability to source the biomass fuel from the UK which ensures a secure and stable fuel supply.
The installation of two 180kW Kaskade systems, each comprising three Windhager 60kW BioWIN Excel automatically-fed wood pellet boilers, was completed within the footprint of the hotel to fuel the heating and hot water systems to the rooms. This cascaded format of the boilers is especially beneficial to the hotel as it provides a reliable supply of energy with automatic back up support from the other two boilers should one need to be shut down for maintenance.
Particularly suitable for a wide range of commercial property applications, the Kaskade heating system allows large and variable outputs to be achieved and can be controlled using the Windhager Kaskade operating system. The wide modulating output range ensures the boilers consistently provide their maximum efficiencies depending on the requirements of each installation.
Available up to 300kW, a Windhager Kaskade system can be created to offer any output required using the company’s proven BioWIN Excel high performance wood pellet boilers. These boilers operate a fully-automated feed system so that minimal user interaction is required. The BioWIN Excel incorporates a self-cleaning burner bowl and a large ash box that only requires emptying up to three times a year so that maintenance is truly kept to a minimum. Windhager has also developed a patented BioWIN ignition device that is not a wearing part and is also maintenance-free for the safest and most efficient boiler operation possible.
Further information is available from Windhager UK on 01225 892211 email: [email protected] or by visiting the company’s website at www.windhager.co.uk