The Forestry Commission is calling on more UK businesses to install biomass boiler systems as a new report suggests the European biomass market will double capacity over the next five years.
The Forestry Commission (FC), the Government department responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of
woods and forests, says it is supporting the use of
carbon-lean biomass through its woodfuel strategy, which aims to
develop this growing market. It has just published results of
a survey of non-domestic biomass boiler installations in England in 2009. The survey shows there are now over 1,960 installed biomass boilers in England,
with the Yorkshire and Humber leading the country – with a total
of 290 installed in the region by last year. Some of those are the most powerful in the country – capable of generating
25 per cent of England’s biomass boiler heat.
Meanwhile, according to a new study by German energy consultancy ecoprog and research institute Fraunhofer UMSICHT, a new wave of wood-fired power plants in the UK and France will see biomass capacity across the region grow by 50 per cent by 2013.
Rudie Humphrey, the FC's Yorkshire and the Humber woodfuel officer, who
is working to bring undermanaged woods back into fuel production to
supply the increasing number of woodfuel boilers, said: “Locally-grown
woodfuel is a carbon-lean alternative to fossil fuels and will help the
environment locally and globally. It also creates jobs in forestry, haulage and woodfuel supply.”
“Woodfuel boilers are suitable for a whole range of larger, commercial
and community buildings, such as those at Farmer Copley’s Farm Shop in
Pontefract, Gayle Mill in Hawes and our own Dalby Visitor Centre. We
want more people to consider this locally-grown, traditional fuel as a
future energy source," said Humphrey.
The Carbon Trust also wants more businesses to invest in biomass heating systems as a way to reduce energy bills
and cut CO2 emissions, while the Government has
relaxed planning permission rules to encourage businesses to install
their own on-site renewable systems, such as biomass boilers. In November 2009, further incentives were announced for businesses, including grants of up to £500,000 under Round Six of the
Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme, covering up to 40 per cent of the difference in
cost between a biomass boiler and its fossil fuel alternative.
Mark
Williamson, The Carbon Trust, director of Innovations, said: “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. 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.”