South West Wood Shed - Bioheat and Biomass suppliers and events - regensw

What is Biomass?

Biomass is the name given to living and recently dead organic material that can be used to create energy. This includes wood and also other plant, vegetable or animal matter. Biomass is also sometimes called ‘bioenergy’ or ‘biofuel’.

There are two main kinds of biomass. The first kind is woody biomass. This includes wood from forestry, energy crops (such as miscanthus) and short rotation coppice like willow. The second kind includes animal waste, food waste and agricultural residues. Woody biomass is of particular interest for small scale domestic users as well as businesses looking for cost effective green energy solutions.

The environmental impact of biomass

Biomass is part of the carbon cycle and on combustion, the carbon it contains goes back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (C02.) Wood and plant matter used as fuel can be constantly replaced through new planting – it is renewable.

Biomass takes carbon out of the atmosphere while it is growing and returns it to the atmosphere as it is burned. It releases the same amount that it absorbed while growing, which is why it is considered to be ‘carbon neutral’. This is in sharp contrast to the environmental impact of fossil fuels. When fossil fuels like coal are burned, they contain carbon that has been ‘out’ of the carbon cycle for millions of years, and so their combustion disturbs the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, increasing the concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere.

 This is contributing to the process of global warming. So by using biomass energy such as wood fuel, you are helping to protect the environment. You will do even more to help the environment (as well as your local economy) if you choose a local supplier, as this minimises travel miles.

WOOD FUEL – WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

Most people in the UK are completely unaware of the range of wood fuel options available today. Technologies are continually improving meaning that the range of opportunities presented by wood fuel are constantly expanding. When it comes to wood fuel, there are now three real options, each with different pros and cons and each likely to appeal to different users, depending on their specific needs. Wood fuel boilers use three different types – logs, pellets or woodchip. Some boilers are designed to use only one kind of fuel, whereas some are multi fuel.