Biomass Boiler – Simple Carbon Emissions Reducing Solution
The talk about climate change, global warming and green technology is peppered with many buzz words and injected with a lot of hype. When asked about the first thing that springs to mind in relation to clean technology, most people would say solar panels or wind turbines. Although these technologies are robust and credible, most people seem to forget or ignore a much simpler type of energy generation. Heat generation through wood burning is as ancient as it gets. However modern wood burning stoves are sophisticated, reliable and still help you save the environment.
In order to fairly evaluate biomass boilers, it is important to explain how they work. Biomass boilers burn wood, which is an organic fuel (hence the bio-fuel label), rather than fossil fuels that come from the ground (oil, gas, coal). The boilers burn untreated wood (such as logs, wood chips) and treated wood (most common being wood pallets).
Wood pallets are the most efficient of the wood fuel types. They are made from sawdust which is compressed at high pressure into small pallets (roughly the size of AAA batteries). They are made from by-products of local carpentries, joinery workshops and sawmills. The high pressure compression removes moisture and increases their output to weight ratio, meaning you need less fuel to get the same amount of heat. Another benefit is that they don’t leave as much residue on the burner due to full burning reaction.
Because the boilers burn wood they are considered to be CO2 neutral. When fossil fuels are burned to generate energy and heat, they release CO2 that was trapped under the ground. This gas is widely accepted as one of the main drivers of global warming and climate change. In contrast, when we burn wood, we only release CO2 that the plant has captured during its lifetime, thus not adding more of the harmful gas into the general equilibrium.
Before installing a biomass boiler it important to consider a few aspects of this technology:
* Local supply of wood – do you have a local sawmill or joinery workshop that can provide a steady supply of wood chips, or even wood pallets.
* Space consideration – unlike modern gas and oil boilers, a biomass boiler is larger in size and requires a large area nearby to store the wood. It is wise to plan for this space in advance.
* Chimney consideration – a biomass boiler requires a chimney, and more specifically a lined chimney that is designed for wood fuel. However, in most cases such lining can be retro-fitted to carry the smoke.
* Smoke limitations – if your house is located in a ‘Smoke-Free’ zone you may have to look for a specially labeled product which is ‘exempted’ under the Clean Air Act.
* Other General Considerations – to avoid disappointment later, it is wise to check with the planning department of your local authority about the implications of installing a biomass boiler, especially if you live in a listed building or a conservation area.
Filed under: Business