AN innovative, eco-friendly earth energy system, similar to the one planned for Buckingham Palace, is this winter being installed at the £2.38 million Pitts Cleave industrial estate development near Tavistock. Work started on site in May and with the major steelwork now finished, contractors Kier Western are drilling a series of 14 boreholes for the green energy heating system. They will drill to a depth of around 250 feet where the earth?s natural temperature is high enough to heat water circulating through pipes inserted into the boreholes. A heat exchanger then extracts the energy to heat the buildings. According to reports, a similar system is being proposed to heat Buckingham Palace, using geothermal energy from beneath a lake in the palace grounds. The earth energy system will heat the five industrial units on the site, while the 15 workshops being developed by the Borough Council will be heated by a wood chip burner. Cllr Nick Morgan, chairman of the borough?s environment and community committee, said: ?I am delighted that the RDA has decided to invest in renewable energy technology at Pitts Cleave. ?This fits well with the Council?s intention to develop a comprehensive renewable energy strategy and promote greater energy efficiency. ?Not only will Pitts Cleave help the local economy to develop but it will show how this can be done with reduced environmental impact.? Derek Harrison of the South West RDA said: ?Our investment in Pitts Cleave will not only support business development in West Devon, but will allow the use of innovative technology for the benefit of the environment.? Kier Western expect to take two weeks to install the earth energy system using a large drilling rig. The bore holes are being drilled under what will be the car park for the development. The five new industrial units and 15 workshops are being jointly developed by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) and the borough council, with support from the European Objective Two programme. Once complete they will support an estimated 50 jobs and provide much-needed employment space in West Devon. The whole project is due to be completed in April 2006.
