Council Backs Biomass Upgrade Over Scrapping
Solihull councillors have voted to retain and improve a controversial biomass heating system used in council tower blocks, despite resident pleas for its complete removal. The decision, made at an Economic Development, Managed Growth and Skills Scrutiny Board on 4th November, commits to an accelerated investment programme for the technology.
Resident Concerns and System Review
The biomass system, which burns imported wood pellets in central boilers to provide heating and hot water to individual flats, has been a point of contention. It was introduced over the past decade by Solihull Community Housing (SCH), which manages the council's homes, highlighting its environmental credentials.
However, the system came under intense scrutiny earlier this year. Residents like Josh Kearns from a block in Smith’s Wood described the costs as "extortionate", stating it was driving tenants into "financial insecurity and energy poverty." He told councillors in February that he only switched his heating on when his disabled son visited.
In response to 18 months of criticism, SCH conducted a review which presented four options:
- Decommissioning the biomass system and installing individual electric systems in each flat.
- Retaining and upgrading the current biomass system.
- Switching the primary energy source from biomass to gas.
- Replacing biomass with green electric technologies like air source heat pumps.
The Path Forward: Upgrades and a Task Group
During a 90-minute debate, councillors ruled out scrapping the system entirely. Councillor Max McLoughlin argued that the capital cost and disruption would be "prohibitive," while Councillor Andrew Burrow noted that some plant rooms were "pretty much finished."
Officer Darren Baggs, the authority’s executive director of operations, confirmed the biomass boilers were in a "poor state of repair" but had an estimated remaining life of seven to eight years.
The board voted unanimously to recommend an "accelerated investment programme" to upgrade the remaining Building Management Systems (BMS). This follows upgrades to three energy centres across eight blocks which have already improved network efficiency and are expected to reduce running costs.
The cost for the remaining works is estimated at approximately £760,000, with potential for partial grant funding through the government’s Heat Network Efficiency Scheme. A bid for funding was submitted in September.
Councillors also voted to establish a task group to explore the other long-term options. The committee's chairman, Councillor Sally Tomlinson, identified the BMS investment as the "single most beneficial thing" that could be done to reduce the price of the tariff for residents in 2026. The recommendations will now proceed to the cabinet's meeting in December.
