Introduction
Biomass is, in this context, living or recently dead material for use as fuel, wood being an example. The importance to us of biomass at this time is twofold.
- It is renewable, and we can always grow some more, if the process is suitably managed.
- The carbon released into the atmosphere when it is burned is taken in as we grow new fuel. The entire cycle is carbon neutral.
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Biomass may be a byproduct of another process. Sawmills produce quantities of sawdust, chips and offcuts which may be burned in suitable furnaces to produce warm air, hot water or even steam.
A local wood processing company is heating its premises by this means, and making huge savings. The material may also be turned into pellets for use in domestic central heating boilers, or briquettes which may be burned in stoves or on ordinary grates. A power station in Fife produces 9.8 Megawatts of electricity from used chicken litter.
Which puts a whole new meaning on battery farming
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The Future
Biomass may also be grown specifically for the purpose. Suitable species have been identified. Poplar, willow and sugar cane are among these.The huge coal-fired power station at Drax is in the process of installing new equipment to enable it to generate about 10% of its output from biomass.
A Special Interest Team could investigate sources of biomass fuel in this area and look at the possibility of growing suitable crops. It could collect information on the various appliances which burn biomass fuel to enable householders to choose heating equipment appropriate to their needs. It could also examine the feasibility of larger schemes involving biomass heating or CHP for groups of houses, factories and larger buildings.
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