Biomass can be used to generate heat or electricity. Specificaly, it can be combusted to produce heat for hot water and space heating, or to produce steam to drive a turbine and produce electricity. Alternatively, biomass can be digested or fermented to produce biogas or bio-liquids. The resulting biogas or bio-liquids can be combusted for heat and electricity. In the near future, biogas and bio-liquids could be further processed into synthetic natural gas (SNG) and fed into the UK’s gas grid.
DECC's approach to increasing the amount of biomass heat and electricity generated and used in the UK is set out in the Renewable Energy Strategy, launched on 15 July 2009. This strategy considers that around 30 percent of the UK’s overall 15 percent renewable energy target could come from biomass heat and electricity in 2020. The main section on biomass is from paragraphs 4.120 to 4.196 (pages 103-128). The Strategy builds on the action plan set out in the UK Biomass Strategy launched in May 2007.
Different types of biomass energy
Biomass is defined as organic material, derived from recent plant or animal matter. The biomass used for heat and power typically falls into one of three categories:
Conventional Forestry Management
Biomass is sourced from the sustainable management of woodlands and forest. This includes thinning, felling, sawmill residues and parts of trees unsuitable for timber.
Dedicated energy crops and agricultural residues
Crops grown for heat and electricity generation are typically ‘woody’ perennials, such as miscanthus grass and willow, which can be grown on lower grade land unsuitable for food crops. The harvested crop is chopped, chipped, pelleted or baled and burnt directly in stoves, boilers or dedicated biomass power stations. Biomass can also be mixed with coal for use in conventional power stations (commonly known as co-firing with biomass). Biomass can also be sourced from the residues of food crops, such as straw, husks and kernels.
Biodegradable wastes and residues
A wide range of biomass wastes and residues are suitable for undergoing anaerobic digestion treatment to produce biogas. These include sewage sludge, animal manure, chicken litter, waste wood from construction and food waste.
Useful links and documents
The Biomass Energy Centre (BEC) is a 'one stop shop' for anyone in the UK with an interest in biomass derived solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and associated conversion technologies. Set up in April 2006, it is owned and managed by the UK Forestry Commission, via Forest Research, its research agency.
You may be particular interested in the following BEC web pages:
The Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides free impartial advice for people looking to save money and fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from their home. This includes information on how to generate energy in your own home, including installing wood-fuelled heating.
The Carton Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides specialist support to help businesses and the public sector cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. This includes information on their Biomass Heat Accelerator, which aims to stimulate the UK’s medium-scale commercial and industrial biomass heating market, and their guide to implementing a biomass heating project.