Biomass & ORC

Project Description

CLIENT: Goodwood

PROJECT: Biomass & ORC

SMD are proud to be resident surveyor for the Goodwood estate. Both the racecourse and the motor circuit are busy all year round, with 19 days of horse racing from May to October and various track days and driving experiences at the circuit. Within the motor circuit is Goodwood Aerodrome, a historic airfield that was used extensively during WWII when it was known as RAF Westhampnett. Several historic aircraft continue to be housed at the Aerodrome, including two Spitfires and a Harvard. Goodwood's 12,000 acre estate is home to a 91 room hotel and a 18th century clubhouse that once housed the Duke of Richmond’s hunting hounds. The most recent addition to the estate is Hound Lodge, a luxurious 10-bedroom country retreat with its own butler and private chef. At the heart of it all sits Goodwood House, set in picturesque parkland and home to the 11th Duke of Richmond and his family.

We provided Contract Administration and Quantity Surveying Services for the new Biomass & ORC project, supplying renewable energy for the Goodwood estate. The project was a joint venture with Novlaux Energy Solutions, with the groundworks undertaken directly by Goodwood through B&M Plant. This project will bring the Goodwood estate into the modern sustainable era with the whole estate looking to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Project Detail

• CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
• QUANTITY SURVEYING SERVICES

• £7.0m Project Cost
• New Build & Reconfiguration
• Key Facilities; 3.5MW Thermal Oil Boiler & 700kWe ORC Turbo Generator
• Major works to the High Voltage & Low Voltage networks
• Design Team; Novalux Energy Solutions
• Contractors; Novalux, B&M Plant & A13 Developments

Project Brief

To support the Goodwood team on delivering the Biomass & ORC project, including preparing all the contract documents, and the usual CA & QS duties. The works consisted of a new build bespoke Energy Centre to house the new biomass boiler and ORC unit, installation of over 1000 meters of heating pipework to the exsiting estate, including connection and alterations to Goodwood House, Goodwood Hotel and various other buildings, and a new HV sub-station. The biomass boiler will be powered by the straw bales left over from the major events held on the estate as well as the timber from the estate. The ORC will provide electricity to Goodwood House, Goodwood Hotel and Goodwood Farm, with all spare electricity put back into the national grid.

Project Solution / Outcome

This was a challenging project, with tight deadlines for the EA grant applications. Laying 1000 meters of heating pipework, electric cables and fibre is not an easy undertaking across a very busy estate. The ground works were carefully planned and phased having to negotiate scheduled ancient monuments as well as crossing many access roads on the estate. The new energy centre is within the South Downs National Park, so planning approval was achieved after carful negotiations with the local planners and conservation team. The new high voltage sub-station has to be one of the most beautiful sub-stations ever built, in keeping with the estates heritage. The project was delayed slightly due to the covid pandemic, but was open and operational in November 2021.