Biomass Boilers

Brief description:
Most biomass boilers burn wood in the form of either logs, chips or pellets, but straw and even some animal & food wastes are also suitable. There are a large range available - from small log burners to heat a room, to large auto-fed boilers capable of supplying central heating and hot water to an entire row of houses.

You could benefit from this if:
You have enough space to store the wood, and if you've got the room in your house for the boiler/heater and the associated pipework.

Advantages:
The CO2 released as the wood burns equalls the amount that it had absorbed during it's growth - so as long as you use sustainably sourced wood fuel then it's a carbon neutral form of heat! But it's important that the supply of the wood is local to reduce the reliance on transport. Logs and wood chip are best for this, since there is currently no wood pellet manufacturer within mainland UK.

Disadvantages:
Although carbon neutral, biomass heaters/boilers emitt particulates (smoke) and other gasses, and as a result may not be permitted where the Environment Agency has defined an 'Air Quality Zone' (i.e. where low air quality has been identified). They take up space within your house, and may require planning permission.

Cost & Funding:
Stove boilers - £5,000
Grants are available at 30% of the cost, up to a value of £5,000

Savings:
Your energy bill could be reduce by £200 per year
Over 1,000 kg of CO2 could be saved per year

Biomass Boiler Installers:
- Ecotech Environmental Ltd, Grantham, e: ecotech-environmental.co.uk
- Eco Link Resources Ltd, Grantham, t: 01476 580146

Pellet Suppliers:
- Heritage Doors & Floors Ltd, Killmarsh, w: http://www.theheritagecollection.co.uk/, t: 0114 247 4917
- Briquette & Pellet Ltd, Chesterfield, w: http://www.briquetteandpellet.co.uk/, t: 01246 550119

For more information:
- South Yorkshire Woodfuel, w: http://www.wood-fuel.org.uk/who.php

- Green Energy 360 website (see separate blog)
- South Yorkshire Energy Centre, Heeley City Farm, Sheffield
- Stoves Online, w: http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/
- Treco Greenheat, w: http://www.treco.co.uk/
- Action CO2, w: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/actonco2/DG_067197
- South Yorkshire Biomass Group