Carbon Trust calls for switch to biomass

The Government-funded organisation has published a new guide to help businesses and public organisations make the switch, saying biomass systems can offer 90 per cent reductions in carbon emissions and save thousands of pounds a year in bills compared to fossil fuel systems, such as oil and gas.

Heating presently accounts for almost half – 49 per cent – of the UK’s carbon emissions. To meet the Government’s 2020 green energy targets, it is expected renewable sources will need to meet 14 per cent of the UK’s heating requirements compared to just one per cent now.

The Carbon Trust says there is currently a lack of understanding among businesses about the potential benefits of biomass, but that using products, such as wood or straw, can provide cost savings of two to four pence per kilowatt hour, compared to heating oil.

It says its wider use is going to be essential in meeting the UK’s renewable energy targets.

 “We’ve become so reliant on oil, gas and electricity that many businesses just aren’t aware of the cost and carbon benefits of turning to biomass for their heating supply,” says Mark Williamson, director of Innovations at the Carbon Trust.  “Renewable heating will need to play a key role in meeting the UK’s renewable energy targets and biomass offers the greatest potential to contribute to this.”

Williamson said growing the UK biomass industry could also offer other positive impacts, such as creating new green jobs and making use of certain waste products that would otherwise go to landfill.


In its new publication, Biomass Heating, A Practical Guide, the Carbon Trust offers an overview of biomass heating systems and fuels, and provides a step-by-step guide to implementing and operating biomass systems.

Switching to biomass heating offers the most significant cost savings in parts of the UK that are not currently on the gas grid.

A biomass system generating 1,600MWh of heat – roughly equivalent to the annual heating requirements of a typical school – could save up to £50,000 per year on fuel costs relative to an existing oil-based heating system. 

The Carbon Trust says the most cost-effective carbon savings can be achieved with small to medium scale biomass applications (100 kWth-3MWth). 

The Carbon Trust offers interest-free loans of up to £200,000 to small businesses to upgrade to more energy efficient equipment, including biomass boilers.  It says, when replacing electric, LPG, or heating oil systems, the payback on the initial capital outlay can be less than three years.
 
Through its Woodfuel Strategy for England, the Forestry Commission is working to facilitate the use of an additional two million tonnes of wood each year by 2020 for renewable heat generation.