Biomass
Biomass is the burning of renewable materials like wood pellets, chips and logs to produce both heat and hot water; whether this is for powering a central heating systems and hot water boilers or merely providing heat for a single room.
How does biomass work?
Biomass boilers and stoves work simply by burning renewable sources of fuel like wood to produce heat that can heat either a single room or a whole building. Biomass boilers are totally carbon neutral, as long as the fuel is sourced from sustainable forests, because the CO2 given off by the burning of wood is equal to that of the CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere by the tree over its lifetime.
Biomass Boilers and Stoves work in slightly different ways, as explained below:
Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers burn various kinds of wood fuels including wood pellets and wood chips. Biomass boilers are usually connected to both central heating systems and hot water systems in order to provide both heat and hot water to your home. Many pellet and chip burning biomass boilers have automatically refilling mechanisms, meaning you only have to refill the fuel storage unit when it runs low, which isn’t that often depending on the size of your fuel storage unit, or ‘hopper’ as they are known. An example of a biomass boiler can be seen in the image to the left. A biomass boiler can provide all the hot water and heat your home needs all year round.
Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers burn various kinds of wood fuels including wood pellets and wood chips. Biomass boilers are usually connected to both central heating systems and hot water systems in order to provide both heat and hot water to your home. Many pellet and chip burning biomass boilers have automatically refilling mechanisms, meaning you only have to refill the fuel storage unit when it runs low, which isn’t that often depending on the size of your fuel storage unit, or ‘hopper’ as they are known. An example of a biomass boiler can be seen in the image to the left. A biomass boiler can provide all the hot water and heat your home needs all year round.
Biomass Stoves
Biomass stoves, or wood burning stoves as they are also known, burn logs or pellets to heat a single room usually; although biomass stoves can be fitted with a back boiler to provide hot water heating as well. Biomass stoves are available in a wide range of styles, from traditional styles to more contemporary designs like the stove shown in the image to the right. Biomass stoves are generally filled by hand. Biomass stoves can heat your room very effectively, providing a high level of heat. If connected to a back boiler, this is enough to provide all the hot water needed for your home.
Biomass Stoves
Biomass stoves, or wood burning stoves as they are also known, burn logs or pellets to heat a single room usually; although biomass stoves can be fitted with a back boiler to provide hot water heating as well. Biomass stoves are available in a wide range of styles, from traditional styles to more contemporary designs like the stove shown in the image to the right. Biomass stoves are generally filled by hand. Biomass stoves can heat your room very effectively, providing a high level of heat. If connected to a back boiler, this is enough to provide all the hot water needed for your home.Is biomass suitable for you?
By contacting Green Energy Consultancy, we can assess if biomass is suitable for your home or business premises and answer any questions you may have about biomass and other renewable technologies; so please contact us for more information.
You can answer a few basic questions yourself however:
Do you have space?
Biomass stoves come in all kinds of sizes so almost anyone will have space for one. Biomass boilers are slightly larger, but again are not huge. There is the issue of fuel supply however; ideally you need a decent sized and dry storage area for your wood so you don’t have to buy in small quantities all the time, so it is worth bearing this in mind when considering biomass.
Do you have a suitable flue?
You will need a vent designed for wood fuel appliances with sufficient air movement for the stove that, your existing chimney can be fitted with an inexpensive lined flue to achieve this.
Do you comply with safety and building regulations?
If you live in an old or unusual home there may be issues here; if you contact us however we can carry out a thorough examination of your premises to deem whether your building is suitable for biomass.
Do you live in a smokeless zone?
Wood can only be burnt in certain appliances in smokeless areas, to find out if you are in a smokeless zone click this link - http://www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk/locations.php
To find out more about biomass products, savings, grants and more, please read the other articles in the left menu, or contact us for more information on site surveys and installation of biomass boilers and stoves.
