Wood Biomass is a renewable, cost-effective and sustainable source of fuel that is capable of generating energy and heat with a carbon neutral impact.
Biomass fuel from wood has what is known as a ‘closed carbon cycle’. This cycle achieves a carbon neutral way of creating heat. During its life, a tree will absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere and release oxygen back. When the trees are harvested and burned, they only release back into the atmosphere the amount of CO₂ that they absorb. Often when a tree is harvested for fuel, another may be planted in its place, completing what is commonly known as the Closed Carbon Cycle.
why biomass?
Installing a Biomass heating system is considered to be one of the best ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your home or commercial property. If your aim is to reduce your carbon emissions and switch to a clean and renewable source of heat, then Biomass is for you.
Government RHI
The UK Government’s Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heating Incentives offer financial assistance to eligible projects that switch to the use of renewable heat, in efforts to help the UK reduce its carbon emissions and use of fossil fuels, moving towards a zero carbon future.
There are two Renewable Heat Incentive schemes – Non-Domestic and Domestic. They have separate tariffs, eligibility conditions, rules and application processes. If you’re unsure on which tariff to apply for, you can take a look at the official guide.
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CO2 emissions
Biomass Pellets are considered to be almost carbon neutral as a fuel source, and as a result, biomass systems have a carbon emission factor of nearly 7 times less than the equivalent natural gas fired systems and nearly 10 times less than and oil fired system.
Current 2010 building regulations present the CO2 emission factors as follows:
Pellet vs. Wood Chip
Generally, Biomass fuel comes in two types; pellets and wood chip.
Wood chip is the cheaper of the two fuel types, however wood chip requires more storage space (0.8MWh/m3) and produces more ash (1% by weight). Wood chip systems require more regular handling in comparison to the automated pellet systems and although the fuel needs to be manually tipped into a store, the actual system feed is automatic.
Biomass pellets are made from untreated wood, compressed under heat and pressure, making them more expensive that wood chip fuel. However, they are readily available and uniform in size and shape, Pellets also require less physical space (3.2MWh/m3) than wood chips. They are free flowing and easily delivered into the store and as a result, they make the perfect fuel for a fully automated system and produces less ash (0.1% by weight).
RHI – Further Information
Click on the highlighted text for links to relevant websites: The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a Government environmental program which provides financial incentives to increase the uptake of renewable heat. Ofgem is responsible for implementing and administering the scheme on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).