Power stations burning bio mass

[Steve999]

Been watching a programme about Drax power station which is being converted to burn biomass instead of coal, which is going to consume vast amounts of wood so what does this mean to forest management and the supply of wood for other purposes, especially if more power stations are converted. I've read that the UK tree production is unlikely to keep up with demand and therefore will have to import cord from the continent. I wonder whether this makes sense, all the transportation involved which in itself requires lorries, diesel etc.

[redmoosefaction]

The biomass generator at Slough heat and power apparently takes 500tonnes a day. That's a lot of chip running up and down the country in big diesel munching trucks. Mmmm?

 

Adam

[nick channer]

The biomass generator at Slough heat and power apparently takes 500tonnes a day. That's a lot of chip running up and down the country in big diesel munching trucks. Mmmm?

 

Adam

 

i'm 10 miles fom slough and my chip goes to thetford for some reason..

one of mt cord customers has just put 3 biomas boilers in... thats another 1-2000 ton soft and hard wood needed per yr just for him!!!

[Steve999]

Does he chip and burn, or does it need seasoning first? There's been threads on here people asking how to dry chip.

[Goaty]

I think it's daft on a large scale in this country as we aren't self sufficient in timber. The way forward is burning waste instead of landfill I think, it needs effective exhaust filtration.

Talking to a farmer today, 25 acres of willow biomass produced 180m3 of dry mass biomass, It was 280m3 before dried. 100m3 equivelant carted away in water.

 

Im told by a consultant in the waste industry the USA and Canada have long term contracts to bring in biomass chips by the boatload.

Like most green ideals, in reality not effcient and not that green.

[Steve999]

It's totally bonkers to be shipping, but synically its probably just another tick in the box, UK government meeting it's green pledge.

[openspaceman]

The biomass generator at Slough heat and power apparently takes 500tonnes a day. That's a lot of chip running up and down the country in big diesel munching trucks. Mmmm?

 

Adam

 

Last I heard it was 31k tonnes/month when the boilers aren't broke down.

[skyhuck]

Why is OK to ship oil and coal, but not chip/timber??

[Pete Mctree]

I'm sure there are some speculators & bankers who will bank-roll the import of virgin timber into the UK. Then, when we are a captive market hike the price through the roof, holding the UK to ransom - just like the gas supply :thumbdown::thumbdown:

[Goaty]

Why is OK to ship oil and coal, but not chip/timber??

 

Progress would eliminate global shipping, still have transport costs and pollution caused by it. Also disease pathogens etc in timber. All gets handled and disturbed, releasing anything in it. Just my thinking.