Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Is biomass usage sustainable and as green as it is made out to be?


Pete Mctree
 Share

Recommended Posts

Log in or register to remove this advert

Can biomass be sustainable, in principle? Yes.

 

Is biomass in the UK sustainable. Not even close.

 

We don't have anywhere near enough wood fuel in the UK to support the RHI grant funded boilers that are currently installed. As such we're reliant on imported (often from afar) timber. 

 

Then, due to the economics of storage, almost all wood chip is kiln dried, using the heat from burning kiln dried wood chip. The carbon cost is monstrous.

 

The grant funding (as others have alluded to) is grotesquely generous, and represents a massive effort at wealth distribution from those that don't have (the average energy customer/taxpayer) to those that do (the people that can afford to put £100k into a boiler to heat their stables/country house/kiln that's generally just a steel shed).

 

I'm not saying that I wouldn't do it myself if I was in that position, but the whole scheme is badly thought out and ripe for abuse. 

 

It is telling that in Scandinavia, wood fuel heating is increasingly being phased out in favour of air and ground source heat pumps. Finland and Sweden are both over 70% forested, with abundant, high quality fuel that is cheaper than here. And they still choose not to burn it, rather directing it into wood fibre/pulp type applications. 

 

Where biomass is (I feel) sustainable is small district heating systems that use air dried fuel to heat a few dozen (or more) houses. The timber is locally sourced, sustainably harvested, naturally dried and the carbon footprint is low. 

 

This is a world away from the CHP plant at Sandwich in Kent taking Euc. chip from New Zealand. 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can biomass be sustainable, in principle? Yes.
 
Is biomass in the UK sustainable. Not even close.
 
We don't have anywhere near enough wood fuel in the UK to support the RHI grant funded boilers that are currently installed. As such we're reliant on imported (often from afar) timber. 
 
Then, due to the economics of storage, almost all wood chip is kiln dried, using the heat from burning kiln dried wood chip. The carbon cost is monstrous.
 
The grant funding (as others have alluded to) is grotesquely generous, and represents a massive effort at wealth distribution from those that don't have (the average energy customer/taxpayer) to those that do (the people that can afford to put £100k into a boiler to heat their stables/country house/kiln that's generally just a steel shed).
 
I'm not saying that I wouldn't do it myself if I was in that position, but the whole scheme is badly thought out and ripe for abuse. 
 
It is telling that in Scandinavia, wood fuel heating is increasingly being phased out in favour of air and ground source heat pumps. Finland and Sweden are both over 70% forested, with abundant, high quality fuel that is cheaper than here. And they still choose not to burn it, rather directing it into wood fibre/pulp type applications. 
 
Where biomass is (I feel) sustainable is small district heating systems that use air dried fuel to heat a few dozen (or more) houses. The timber is locally sourced, sustainably harvested, naturally dried and the carbon footprint is low. 
 
This is a world away from the CHP plant at Sandwich in Kent taking Euc. chip from New Zealand. 

They are not quite there yet either though, a friend who had one installed on a new build as it was one of the conditions for planning was shocked at how much electricity those pumps burnt..
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, MattyF said:


They are not quite there yet either though, a friend who had one installed on a new build as it was one of the conditions for planning was shocked at how much electricity those pumps burnt..

They are reliant on a well insulated house, and we're a little way behind the Scandinavians on that front. 

I believe that their electricity is a little cheaper than here too, which helps.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, MattyF said:


They are not quite there yet either though, a friend who had one installed on a new build as it was one of the conditions for planning was shocked at how much electricity those pumps burnt..

Had a GSHP for 15 years now. Cheap to run and maintain IME. As J says they do need a well insulated house but a new build should be but something is clearly amiss if its costing a lot to run

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.