# Biomass Heating In The Uk 18Th June 2008

Robin Cotton Managing Director, Wood Energy Ltd

## Wood Energy Ltd

 Wood Energy Ltd are a leading UK provider of biomass boilers with over c.47,000kW of capacity and c.160 projects to date across UK and Ireland. Currently 38 staff. Founded 2002.

 Expanding rapidly with head office in South West England and offices in Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 Distributors for UK & Ireland of Binder GmbH boilers since 2003
 Full in-house design & engineering staff within WEL

## Wel Biomass Installations In Wales

 To date 23 biomass boilers installed or under construction Ranging from 50kW to 1 MW Estimated consumption c. 4,000 
tonnes of wood fuel per annum Estimated carbon saving c. 

2500 tonnes CO2/year

## Average Heating Oil Price (1 Year) Markets Boiler Technology

 Fully automatic feed
 Electric/oil/gas ignition 
 Capacity control Remote system control Remote monitoring Automatic cleaning Automatic ash extraction Typical efficiency 90% + Very low ash remains
# Boiler Technology - Emphasis Of Low

Automatic ash removal from the boiler Cyclone to remove fly-ash from the emissions High-velocity air cleaning system

## Wood Fuel Key Characteristics Quality Of Wood Fuel

Moisture content of the wood fuel Particle size of the wood fuel

## Delivery Of Wood Fuel Wood Fuel Transport Equipment Wood Fuel Store Design Wood Fuel Types Wood Pellets

High density, low moisture content

"Standard" product

 Tanker delivery - flows similar to a liquid
Boiler and fuel store generally simpler & cheaper Many production facilities now in the UK

## Wood Chip

 Can vary in particle size, moisture content Low bulk density Difficult to handle Widely available - sawmill residues, forestry 
residues, clean recycled wood, energy crops…
 Lower cost per unit of energy

## The Senedd Building, Cardiff - 2005

360kW Binder wood boiler commissioned October 2005. 

## Carbon Saving C. 120 Tonnes Co2/Year Penmorfa District Heating, Ceredigion 2005

•
County Council Offices
•
Sheltered Housing
•
Nursing Home
•
Small district heating loop fuelled by 550kW wood-boiler and 250kW oil for peaks

## Llandrindod High School, Powys 2005

# Llandrindod High School - Hook Bin System

## Swansea Leisure Centre 2008

500kW Binder step-grate wood chip boiler Designed for G100/W50 wood chip Hook bin wood chip delivery system Carbon Saving c. 120 tonnes CO2/year

## Summary & Conclusions

 Biomass heating has a central role to play in the UK's 
energy mix
 Biomass can make a significant contribution to reducing 
carbon emissions, security of supply and help the local 
economy
 High quality biomass boiler technology is available in the 
UK with trained local technical support
 Wood fuel supply infrastructure is being established and 
is gaining experience
 Biomass market still relatively small The expansion of the industry needs to be DEMAND led –
the boiler capacity needs to reach a critical size to establish large scale biomass heating sector