Biomass boilers burn a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels called biomass. Biomass is living and recently dead organic matter which can be used as fuel. When it is burned, it releases carbon that it absorbed when it was growing. As this happens over a relatively short timescale it is considered carbon neutral, as long as organic matter is planted to replace any burned. Biomass fuels include animal, food and industrial waste, high energy crops such as willow, rape and maize and a range of wood products. For domestic heating purposes the main fuels used are wood in the form of logs, pellets or chips and there are boilers available that burn a range of cereals.
The biomass boilers produce heat for your central heating system and hot water, helping to counter the impact of climate change.
How it works
Biomass boilers and stoves work simply by burning renewable sources. They tend to use 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 is not that often depending on the size of your fuel storage unit. 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.
Benefits
- Biomass is environmentally friendly and is carbon neutral. During the lifetime of the biomass material it will absorb as much carbon as it emits when it is burned, this means that biomass boilers are virtually carbon neutral.
- Biomass is also a far more stable and reliable fuel source than, for example oil.
- Biomass is sourced locally and is stable in price.
- Biomass is easy to use.
- Biomass heating can receive government grants.
- Biomass boilers today are automatic, they can even clean themselves.
Installation and where it can be used
Biomass boilers can be installed where there is a chimney or a flue. They tend to be larger than the gas or oil equivalent and are generally more suitable for people not connected to mains gas who have some space for storage.
Biomass boilers are suitable for both domestic and commercial use, providing cheaper, environmentally sound heating.