Vitali Energy has reached a major milestone on a £25 million renewable energy project in Fife.

A 6.5MW biomass boiler furnace has now arrived for the Guardbridge Energy Scheme, which will see a former paper mill transformed into a modern energy centre for the University of St Andrews.

The 130-tonne boiler is 10 metres high and will be used to generate high temperature flue gases, which pass through the exhaust gas heat exchanger generating medium temperature hot water (MTHW) within the facility.

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Once completed, the 75-week project will deliver heat and hot water for the North Haugh campus, reducing around 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Regional Director for Vital Energi, Mike Cooke, said: "I believe that this is one of the most exciting energy projects in the whole of the UK and the scale of the network, the carbon savings generated and the benefits to the local community make it unique.

"The biomass boiler will be the heart of this energy solution, using up to 17,000 tonnes of locally sourced wood to deliver greener, more affordable heat and hot water to the University's buildings and the scheme is a great example to other organisations of what can be achieved."

(LM/MH)