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Biomass
 
A wide choice of sophisticated biomass combustion equipment that offers a range of features, efficiency & convenience equal to the best fossil fuel fired systems, is currently available.  Timers, auto-ignition, automatic fuel feed & de-ashing all contribute to biomass as a primary heating fuel being as straightforward to use as fossil fuels. Managed on a sustainable basis, biomass is harvested as part of a constantly replenished crop. This is during woodland or arboricultural management or coppicing or as part of a continuous programme of replanting with new growth taking up CO2 at the same time it is released by combustion of the previous harvest. 
 
 
Biomass FAQs
 
What is Biomass?
Biomass is any organic material made from plants or animals. Domestic biomass resources include agricultural and forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes. Biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy and is an attractive oil & gas alternative for a number of reasons. First, it is a renewable resource that is more evenly distributed over the Earth's surface than are finite energy sources, and may be exploited using more environmentally friendly technologies. Agriculture and forestry residues, and in particular residues from paper mills, are the most common biomass resources used for generating electricity and power, including industrial process heat and steam, as well as for a variety of bio based products. Use of liquid transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, however, currently derived primarily from agricultural crops, is increasing dramatically.

Which biomass system should I choose?
There are many factors to consider: fuel type, heating requirements, boiler size to name just a few. We will clearly explain all the options and advise you on the best solution for your circumstances. In the event that a biomass boiler is not appropriate for your renewable energy needs we will tell you, and more importantly explain why.

How easy are biomass burners to use?
Modern biomass boilers are computer controlled for optimum efficiency and are easy to maintain and operate. Woodchips, pellets and other fuel types are delivered on a regular basis into a fuel store and then automatically fed into the boiler when demanded.

Do biomass burners require more maintenance?
Yes. Compared to oil and gas, biomass fired systems require more specific maintenance procedures.  As an optional extra you can choose to take out one of our maintenance plans. This option can give you complete piece of mind, ensuring that your biomass boiler system is always running at peak efficiency.

Why are biomass boilers more expensive than conventional boilers?
Highly-efficient modern biomass boilers have more complex controls and function differently from conventional boilers – they cost more to produce. On the other hand, your woodfuel boiler will last much longer than a conventional boiler (25 – 30 years rather than 5 – 10). Some suppliers will give a price for the boiler alone, but then you have to add on the accumulator tank and other essential components, and labour. We will give you a ballpark idea of what your total installation cost is likely to be right from the outset, followed by an individual quotation when we have more details about your home and your heating needs. Grants are available to individuals and businesses to encourage investment in sustainable technologies.
 
Biomass & Your Home

There are two main ways of using biomass to heat a domestic property:

  1. Stand-alone stoves providing space heating for a room. These can be fuelled by logs or pellets but only pellets are suitable for automatic feed. Generally they are 5-7 kW in output, and some models can be fitted with a back boiler to provide water heating.
  2. Boilers connected to central heating and hot water systems. These are suitable for pellets, logs or chips, and are generally larger than 15 kW.

Stoves can be 70% efficient. They're normally used for background heating. They also add aesthetic value in the living area of the house itself. Many wood burning stoves act as space heaters only. But the higher output versions can be fitted with an integral back boiler to provide domestic hot water and central heating through radiators, if needed.

There are many domestic log, wood-chip and wood pellet burning central heating boilers available. Log boilers must be loaded by hand and may be unsuitable for some situations. Automatic pellet and wood-chip systems can be more expensive. Many boilers will dual-fire both wood chips and pellets, although the wood chip boilers need larger hoppers to provide the same time interval between refuelling.

Boilers can be designed with an integral hot water energy storage or accumulator tank that stores water up to 90º C, enabling the supply of heat to be further decoupled from the combustion of the fuel. This is particularly helpful with log boilers where systems operate at full load and the matching of demand with load is performed by the accumulator.

Is My House Suitable?

You should consider the following issues if you're thinking about a biomass boiler or stove. We always recommend a visit in which case one of our surveyor's will be able to provide more detailed advice.

  • Fuel: It's important to have storage space for the fuel, appropriate access to the boiler for loading and a local fuel supplier.
  • Flue: The vent material must be specifically designed for wood fuel appliances and there must be sufficient air movement for proper operation of the stove. Chimneys can be fitted with a lined flue.
  • Regulations: The installation must comply with all safety and building regulations (see Part J of the Building Regulations).
  • Smokeless zone: Wood can only be burnt on exempted appliances, under the Clean Air Act. This mainly applies to domestic appliances.
  • Planning: If the building is listed or in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), then you will need to check with your Local Authority Planning Department before a flue is fitted.

Running Costs

Unlike other forms of renewable energy, biomass systems require you to pay for the fuel. Fuel costs generally depend on the distance from your supplier. As a general rule the running costs will be more favourable if you live in an area that doesn't have a gas supply.

Payback: This depends on the fuel being replaced and the type of wood fuel being used. It too is more favourable in areas that don't have a gas supply.

Local Benefits

Producing energy from biomass has both environmental and economic advantages. It is most cost-effective when a local fuel source is used, which results in local investment and employment. Furthermore, biomass can contribute to waste management by harnessing energy from products that are often disposed of at landfill sites.
 

Why not contact Conservenergy today to discuss how you can dramatically reduce your energy bills.

We provide you with a no obligation quotation together with a free energy efficiency check.
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