Barnhill Estates Farm Cottages

Located on Barnhill Estate, Craigie, By Dollar.

A working farm of approximately 800 hectares with sheep and Belted Galloway Cattle Barnhill Estate is a busy farm situated between Stirling and Kinross. With the long hours worked by the shepherds and farm workers the requirement for heating and hot water after a long day on the farm is paramount – especially during the busy lambing and calving seasons. The previous heating system installed within the houses was old and unreliable and in need of updating therefore a biomass heating installation was decided upon. With the available timber resources on the farm and estate split log was the obvious choice as the main wood fuel to be utilised.

The Biomass Solution

The two main houses on the farm had limited space internally for a biomass installation and so a local builder Paterson Garden Buildings Ltd was commissioned to erect a bespoke timber framed and clad extension to house the installation and provide a log storage area. A Fischer VX18 split log boiler has been installed to act as the main heat source – an additional Fischer PX50 pellet boiler has also been installed to provide back-up heating and to meet peak loads during the winter months and during lambing and calving season. A 2000 litre buer vessel has been installed to store the heat produced by the boilers. A 600kg pellet hopper has been installed adjacent to the pellet boiler which is topped up with bagged pellets when required.

Service and Support

Scot Heating Company provide a service and maintenance contract to Barnhill Estates Farm residents and full training has been provided in the operation and cleaning of the VX18 split log boiler.

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