Biomass is produced from organic materials, either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. Biomass doesn’t include fossil fuels, which have taken millions of years to be created. Non-woody biomass includes animal waste, industrial and biodegradable municipal products from food processing and high energy crops. Examples include rape, sugar cane and maize. Woody biomass includes forest products (wood chip & wood pellets), untreated wood products, energy crops and short rotation coppice (SRC), which are quick-growing trees like willow.
Biomass systems are environmentally friendly because they use this renewable resource rather than fossil fuels. They are carbon neutral and do not contribute to global warming. Furthermore, because the heat or electricity you produce is used locally, it minimises transmission and distribution losses. Biomass is completely sustainable; the fuel supply can be generated quickly from local agricultural/forestry activity.
Biomass Carbon Cycle
Biomass is common in other European countries because they realise that installing a biomass boiler reduces their heating costs and carbon footprint. Moreover, biomass is reliable; it can be stored and used on demand, unlike wind. Even though, biomass boilers are currently more expensive than their fossil fuel counterparts, considerable savings in annual fuel bills can be realised as biofuels are significantly cheaper than fossil fuels.
Biomass is suitable for industrial, commercial and domestic customers. There are many types of biomass boilers including: wood chip, pellets, log gasification, industrial boilers, and container boilers and boilers often range in size from 12.5 kW up to 5.000kW (5MW).
Gilles Wood Chip Boiler
Benefits of biomass
• Up to 50% Reduction in energy costs
• 100% Reduction in C02 emissions
• One system meets 100% of heat requirements
• Buildings meet new building regulations “Part L”
• Future proof against Carbon tax
• Fully integrated into building control system
• Increased energy efficiency
• Positive green image
• Creates local employment
