Biomass for heat and power production - opportunities for land owners and buildings managers Ian Tubby Biomass Energy Centre RRSP, October 2009

Aim of the presentation Give an overview of biomass fuel types Describe the basics of the biomass market Show fuel requirements and potential carbon savings for different building types Give details of where to get further information

Biomass as a fuel Miscanthus and SRC Waste wood Products from forests and woodlands Dry agricultural residues - straw Food wastes, slurries Oil seed crops and cereals for liquid biofuel production

Short Rotation Coppice years to first harvest harvests before replanting Commercial yields around 8 odt ha yr 4,000 ha planted during last 10 years Usually associated with large power generation projects

Recovering wood from the waste stream 5 million tonnes from construction & demolition 4.4 million tonnes from other industry 1 million tonnes in MSW Separation Contamination Waste incineration directive

Existing woodland The resource already exists! Management could improve biodiversity New jobs Growing number of installations and woodfuel suppliers Does not compete for food or current liquid biofuels

Producing good quality chips Use a woodfuel grade chipper - inconsistent chip size can block augers Moisture content is critical CEN standards developed for use across Europe Chippers are expensive - consider hiring in unless you have large quantities to process

Fuel delivery Tipping trailers Scissor lift trailers Hook bins Pneumatic delivery Bags of pellets Keep it simple

Fuel store and fuel feed Sometimes over looked during system design Adequate size to minimise fuel deliveries Beware of minimum fuel delivery volumes Compatible with chosen fuel delivery system Keep fuel dry Keep dust within the store and out of the boiler room

Improvements in efficiency

Reduction in emissions

Annual fuel use for heating different buildings types

Outputs per hectare

Is woodchip competitive with other fuels? Market price varies considerably £50 - £90 per tonne delivered typical Price of oil ~4.0p per kWh 40p per litre)‏ Gas price currently around ~ 4.0p per kWh 1 tonne of 30% MC woodchips contains 3500 kWh of energy Paying anything less than £120 per tonne of chips is competitive with oil and gas at today’s prices

Equipment purchase Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) –UK wide –Phase 1: Householders: £1,500 (or 30% of eligible costs) for boiler, £600 (or 20%) for stove –Phase 2: Public sector, charitable bodies: £200,000 (or 50%) –Products and installers registered with MCS Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme –England only –Industrial, commercial and community –Max £500,000 (40%) –Currently closed

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