Biomass
What is it?
Biomass falls into two broad categories: woody (forest residues
and energy crops like miscanthus, willow) and non-woody (animal
waste and high energy crops like rape). For domestic use of
biomass, the fuel used is usually wood pellets, wood chips and
logs.
How does it work?
There are two main ways of using wood to heat you home:
- A standalone stove burning logs or pellets
provides space heating for a room. Some can also be fitted with a
back boiler to provide water heating as well.
- A boiler burning pellets, logs or chips
connected to a central heating and hot water system.
Log burning stoves and boilers have to be
filled with wood by hand. Some pellet and chip burners use
automatic fuel feeders which refill them at regular intervals from
fuel storage units called hoppers.
Is it suitable?
You'll need a large dry area close to the boiler to store your
wood. Ideally this should be close to where the wood is delivered
to your home to minimise the distance you have to carry it.
You need a vent which is specifically
designed for wood fuel appliances, with sufficient air movement for
proper operation of the stove. Your existing chimney can be fitted
with a lined flue, which is relatively inexpensive.
Can you comply with safety and building
regulations? If you live in an old or unusual home this may be an
issue. For more information, see
Part L of the Building Regulations, England,
Northern Ireland.
Do you live in a smokeless zone?
If so then wood can only be burnt in certain
exempted appliances. Locations of smoke
control areas.
Do you need planning permission?
You need to talk to your our planning team
(01304 872428) if your flue will extend 1m or more above the height
of your roof, or your home is in a Conservation Area or World
Heritage Site and you plan to install a flue on the principal
elevation visible from a road.
What are the benefits?
Savings in CO2 emissions are significant - up to 9.5 tonnes per
year when a wood boiler replaces a solid (coal) fired system or
electric storage heating.
The carbon dioxide emitted when wood fuel is
burned is the same amount that was absorbed over the previous
months and years as the plant was growing. As long as new plants
continue to grow in place of those used for fuel, the process is
sustainable. There are some carbon emissions caused by the
cultivation, manufacture and transportation of the fuel, but as
long as the fuel is sourced locally, these are much lower than the
emissions from fossil fuels.
If you replace solid fuel or electric heating
you could save between £170 and £390 per year. However if you
replace a gas heating system with a wood burning system you may end
up paying more for your fuel.
If you have your own supply of wood fuel then
this can significantly reduce your costs.
Burning wood can be a convenient means of
disposing of waste that might otherwise be sent to a landfill
site.
Burning wood produces less ash than
coal.
Wood burning stoves can add aesthetic value
to a room
Contact Us
Climate Change Officer
White Cliffs Business Park
Whitfield
Dover
Kent Ct16 3PJ
Email: energy@dover.gov.uk
