luke_mclachlan

Hi Bob, I'm really not sure what this could return, or when it will return it. Right now I'm just seeing if it's possible to create an acceptable model, then I'll look to monetize it. Longer term this service will incorporate all forms of domestic renewable energy. This renewable energy industry is an exciting area. I like to tread my own path and make use of my past experiences. Statistics, maths, algorithms are more my thing (working in the forex industry) so if I can create a model that allows consumers to compare renewable energy products at the click of a button, just like they can gas and electricity, then I think this world will be a better place. What makes this exciting for me is that this type of model doesn't exist anywhere in the world. It's a nice challenge. I'm not looking to do what biomassenergycentre do. Their figures are probably averages and biomass prices across the UK deviate significantly from the average. It's an excellent information resource for newcomers, but it won't help them find suppliers. Mine will, and it will tell them exactly what they get for their money. That's the plan anyway

hmmm, is that the same as enjoying the spoils of victory? in which case I think this will be a battle that lasts for a good 18-months. hope I haven't misunderstood you !?

not yet but that's a good point. One other member has mentioned the FC and that should be an aim of mine. To get an official recognition would be invaluable. Thanks !

dodgy dave will certainly not be allowed to participate. i'm going to have to impose some rules, just like Rightmove does by allowing only registered businesses to feature on their site. You've made a very good point there. the only product I'll have a weight problem with is a volume based product, in other words firewood, as briquettes and pellets are sold according to weight. The weight for firewood depends on the type of stacking, species and moisture content, so what I've done is to create a database of weights based on a large and ever growing series of samples. In the beginning I simply copied statistics from official publications, but surprisingly these differed greatly from field data. Of utmost importance to me is the credibility of the data I use to calculate weights and kilowatt-hour figures. So, for example, I'm working with a university to calculate calorific values for a broad range of species, and of course for a range of moisture values. I'm going to have to see how suppliers react and adjust based on their feedback. I now have four nationwide suppliers that are willing to work with me in this test phase. Only when I have a product that suppliers feel happy with will I take pay. And that's a long way from now. Thanks for your input. I'm taking everything people write into consideration. all the negative, all the reservations, they're important to me so thanks.

is it going back up? Apparently it's going down, according to the guys in the city, then to 60 bucks a barrel. I think stoves are becoming the in thing again. The danger is our home builder plc's, who build homes so small that biomass boilers and stoves, let alone storage for the fuel, won't fit in a modern home. Their quest for maximising profit and minimising floor space is having a negative secondary effect. Rant over.

It certainly is chicken and egg! well said. I'm going to have to get the word around by coming up with some creative marketing. I need to show a viable product if I'm ever going to gain funding for that marketing budget you mention. social media, press releases and brain at the ready! My motivation right now is to have the same suppliers who turned me down, ringing me in a year wanting to sign under the dotted line. ...but I still need a few at least to say yes, NOW

Hi Kevin, I've always been early in product cycles and I may have outdone myself on this one. You're right it is early days. At first I thought about customer engagement, then decided to go for suppliers as a way of drawing in customers. After all I need them to pull up a result when they search. You've convinced me though to be patient and not expect success after only 2 days! I'm in Axminster. And you? I'd love to have a chin wag and a brain storm!

Thanks Richard. The only thing is that, as there are so many specs that need to be defined when I input a new product (moisture, stacking, delivery costs, etc), if I don't cooperate with the supplier I risk misinforming consumers and this may annoy both supplier and consumer. When you mention quality comparison, how would you go about showing this? I could score a product based on a series of metrics such as species & moisture, but how would you then compare briquettes against firewood?

Hi all, I've been away recovering from major surgery. One of my projects for the new year was to put in place a online tool that enables biomass customers to directly compare products from different biomass suppliers across the UK. The tool is now ready. Customers can search for suppliers within x-miles of their home and sort products according to distance, price and even kilowatt hour price. All of the UK's biomass products can be shown to them in a matter of minutes. Here's my problem though. I've called several suppliers today and none were interested in helping me test the product. They were all worried about the possibility that customers would be comparing prices and go for the best priced supplier, hence a price war with an unhealthy end. Some of you were kind enough to help me with my survey a little while back. Most of the responses mentioned the need, within the industry, for a standardised "quality" measure of biomass. Apparently there are too many cowboys in this industry selling poor quality firewood for example. Hence I developed this tool to measure the energy output of biomass, allowing consumers to compare products on a cost-per-kWh basis. Now that I have this product in place and, if you like, granted the wishes of suppliers, they're now turning around and saying that this isn't in fact a good thing for the industry. I know for a fact the consumers would love this service, but it's useless if suppliers don't want to participate. For example, how would you compare a truck (loose) load of ash with 25% moisture, against a 1m3 (stacked) crate of kiln dried (20%) mixed hardwood? I know it's impossible for my mum and dad to know which is the better deal. My model compares the two based on the cost-per-kwh. It's the best way to compare the two, isn't it? I'm confused and I feel more than a little dejected. Can anyone give me their opinions. advice. please. Thanks.

Hi all. I just thought a little update would fit nicely, especially as you were all kind enough with your replies. I contacted a university and was forwarded to a doctor of engineering. Funnily enough the university has just started a commercial venture whereby they rent our their lab space for a (hopefully not too exorbitant) fee. I'm now waiting to hear about those fees. Should be interesting. I have two very kind suppliers who have offered to give me feedback on a price model that I have developed and coded for the internet. I am looking for 2-3 more biomass suppliers, preferably UK based. Any takers by all means PM me. Unfortunately I'll be away for the next two weeks as from this evening, in case you do PM me and you don't receive a immediate reply. Thanks all!

ok so is this why, when I read about calorific value, some people quote "net calorific value", because in fact a lot of the intrinsic energy in firewood is wasted? I have a lot more to learn about biomass!

I completely failed to realise that part of the calculation, thank you daltontrees!

ok guys thank you very much for the responses. I had a feeling that it would be complicated and certainly not something that I could measure on the kitchen scales. The problem I have with the figures from biomassenergycentre, and anywhere else in fact, is that they're missing a source and an explanation of the methodology. Though you never know, they may be spot on! I'm going to have to collaborate with a scientific lab on this one, unless anyone here has a calorimeter and knows how to use it daltontrees, I see what you mean about calorific value changing according to the temperature it's being held at. This is therefore why higher moisture values correspond to a lower calorific value

Hi all! I've read a lot about "universal" kWh/kg values for firewood, with oven dry @ 5.25 kWh/kg and 60% moisture @ 1.68 kWh/kg. Do any of you know the process for measuring the calorific value, expressed in kWh/kg, for firewood. I've Goggled around and found nothing, and science wasn't my subject of choice at uni Thanks

I certainly will Mark ! Thanks for your input.