Biomass Overview
Wood was the traditional fuel in Britain until the industrial revolution. It has been replaced by coal, oil and gas over the last two hundred years. Our increasing awareness of the environmental damage caused by our use of fossil fuels has led to growing interest in using wood as a sustainable, renewable, low carbon alternative. Wood is a major source of renewable heat energy and, burned efficiently, it produces virtually no smoke. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), incorporating the carbon into new growth and returning oxygen to the atmosphere. When the wood is burned this carbon is oxidised and released as CO2. As a result, using wood from sustainably managed trees reduces net CO2 production (small amounts are released by the activities of processing and transportation) compared to using fossil fuels. This means that heating using wood can significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels while also reducing our CO2 emissions.
The woodland area in Britain is limited, but with effective management, there is more than enough timber to meet foreseeable demand for many years. Managing woodland improves biodiversity and increasing the proportion of managed woodland supports jobs in the forestry industry. Replacing imported fossil fuels for locally produced wood fuel improves our independence from foreign politics and encourages the local community.
Biomass fuel options
There are four main forms of biomass for heating:
- Logs
- Pellets
- Chips
- Briquettes
Biomass quality
HETAS have introduced a fuel quality scheme to help the customer purchase consistent quality fuel that is appropriate to their installation. Go to the HETAS website for further details or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Smoke Control Areas
Logs and most wood briquettes are not approved for use in smoke control areas except in officially approved “exempt appliances”. The website www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk gives lists of Smoke Control Areas, the appliances approved for use in them, and exempt fuels. It is not permitted to burn wood on an open fire in these areas.
Thank-you note
This is published with thanks to The Biomass Energy Centre, who provided most of the content. www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk
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