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Why you don’t want biomass!
Posted by Gordon Traill on 11th December 2008 at 9:51 am
Well this is my first attempt at writing a blog, so please be patient and don’t expect too high a standard. To start with I find the term ‘expert’ slightly inappropriate. However, as I’ve been involved with TRECO from its inception I have become aware of many pitfalls which can be avoided, m…
Posted in: Biomass
Biomass fuels and supply
Posted by Gordon Traill on 9th March 2009 at 10:10 am
Biomass fuels encompass a wide variety of products but, not surprisingly, most come from wood. Clean wood is a wonderful fuel, producing up to 5.5kWh per kg dry matter (dm). Wood pellets produce slightly less, at 4.7 to 5kWh per kg. Most suppliers guarantee moisture content to be less than 10 p…
Posted in: Biomass
Scots make renewable energy easier
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 23rd February 2009 at 11:06 am
The Scottish Government has made it easier for people to get renewable energy for their home following a consultation on planning reform. The aim of the consultation was to increase renewable energy generation and cut carbon emissions. The result is that anyone living in Scotland will be able to ins…
Posted in: General, Biomass, Heat pumps, Solar electricity, Solar heat & hot water
Living the green dream
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 10th February 2009 at 2:15 pm
Comfort and beauty don’t have to go out of the window in pursuit of energy efficiency and low carbon living. It is possible to live in beautiful luxury, with barely a fossil fuel involved. Banish all thoughts of The Good Life, I know it’s true, I’ve just seen the evidence. Recently I visit…
Posted in: General, Energy efficiency, Biomass, Solar heat & hot water
Monbiot launches war on Agas
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 13th January 2009 at 10:34 am
Agas are the antithesis of energy efficiency and renewable energy, so when I heard on the Today programme this morning that George Monbiot has launched a war on Agas in today's Guardian a lightbulb pinged on. Why didn't I use Agas as the ultimate example of the heart winning over head in yester…
Posted in: General, Energy efficiency
Renewable energy grants still available
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 15th January 2009 at 9:23 am
Homeowners who want to install energy generating equipment such as solar panels, wind turbines or biomass boilers will be able to apply for grants until June 2010. It is anticipated that a feed-in tariff should be in place by then, which will incentivise homeowners and communities to invest in micro…
Posted in: General
Maldives to be powered by wind and solar
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 20th March 2009 at 10:35 am
The President of the Maldives has set an example for the world by announcing that his country will be carbon-neutral within a decade. Half a square kilometre of rooftop solar panels, 155 large wind turbines and a biomass plant burning coconut husks will generate the electricity the island country ne…
Posted in: General, Biomass, Solar electricity, Wind turbines
YouGen community starts here
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27th April 2009 at 9:52 am
Last week a dream became reality for me. Three and a half years after I threw my hands in the air and bought a condensing gas boiler because, despite days of research, I couldn't be sure whether the various biomass boilers suppliers were trying to sell me were appropriate for my house; whether there…
Posted in: General
How to store heat in a thermal store
Posted by Gordon Traill on 30th January 2009 at 11:48 am
Only a serious biomass nerd can get excited about thermal stores. Sadly, I count myself as one of those people. First of all what is a thermal store and what does it do? Essentially it’s a large water tank (usually round) which is well insulated with a series of bosses to connect pipes to.…
Posted in: Biomass, Solar heat & hot water
Sustainable energy solutions recognised by Ashden Awards
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 12th June 2009 at 2:42 pm
Inspirational people combined with sustainable energy technologies makes me feel hopeful for the future, and at the Ashden Awards ceremony last night both abounded. The winners spoke humbly about their achievements, yet many of them are significantly transforming people's lives. For example the …
Posted in: General, Biomass, Solar electricity
Wood fuel supply website launched
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 3rd July 2009 at 9:32 am
Finding a wood fuel supplier just got easier – as long as you live in the south west of England – with the launch of the South West Woodshed website. Aimed at both the domestic and the business market it has information about the different types of wood fuel available, and a search function to h…
Posted in: Biomass
Welsh ease planning rules for renewable energy
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 12th August 2009 at 9:40 am
Welsh planning rules for domestic renewable energy installations have been changed to make it easier for homeowners to generate their own heat and electricity. Following Scotland's lead, the Welsh Assembly has announced new regulations which mean that some microgeneration technologies will no lon…
Posted in: General, Biomass, Combined heat & power, Heat pumps, Hydro electricity, Rainwater harvesting, Solar electricity, Solar heat & hot water, Wind turbines
Prices vary hugely between renewable energy installers
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 27th November 2009 at 11:17 am
Prices for renewable energy installations vary wildly, making buying decisions difficult for homeowners, according to Power from the People, a new study by researchers at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. In addition, there is little correlation between price and the generation …
Posted in: General, Biomass, Heat pumps, Rainwater harvesting, Solar electricity, Solar heat & hot water, Wind turbines
Is there enough wood in the UK for biomass?
Posted by Jon Edge on 24th August 2010 at 5:02 pm
As the market for biomass boilers grows in the UK, there is concern that the wood supply will not be able to meet this demand, now and in the future. There are many factors that affect the answer to this question, but the short answer is yes, there is enough wood for a local UK biomass industry. …
Posted in: Biomass
How to choose logs for a wood burning stove
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 31st March 2011 at 10:12 am
Moisture content and the density of the wood are the two main things to bear in mind when choosing logs for a wood burning stove. Not only will they affect the amount of heat you get per kilo of fuel, but they will also make a difference to how well the wood burns - whether you get nice flames or ta…
Posted in: Biomass
Choosing a Wood Pellet Stove: Five things to look for
Posted by HETAS on 5th July 2011 at 9:28 am
For many, fireplaces are the embodiment of the British household, with the hearth taking pride of place in the home. With the advent of climate change awareness, people are looking to reinstate period features such as these, whilst using an appliance that is efficient, economical and environmental.&…
Posted in: Biomass
What to expect from your biomass boiler
Posted by HETAS on 19th August 2011 at 9:27 am
Biomass has an important role to play in the generation of heat for domestic users, according to the Microgeneration Strategy published by the department for energy and climate change (DECC) in June. It also highlighted the universal requirement for a greater understanding of the ‘durability of m…
Posted in: Biomass
How SAP ratings are used to measure the annual efficiency of a biomass boiler
Posted by HETAS on 23rd September 2011 at 10:15 am
Q: I understand that biomass boilers come with SAP ratings to measure annual efficiency. Please can you explain what an SAP rating is and how effective it is as a measure of efficiency. A: What is SAP? Standard Assessment Procedure (more commonly known as SAP), is a home energy rating that i…
Posted in: Biomass
How wood pellets are made
Posted by David Fields on 2nd December 2011 at 9:40 am
Wood pellets are essentially biomass materials that have been shredded into sawdust and then compressed through a die cast to create the pellet shape. The materials are then held in place by a binding agent, such as naturally forming lignin, and produced into their 6mm size. To go into more detail,…
Posted in: Biomass
Solar is not just about the feed-in tariffs
Posted by Paul Hutchens on 9th December 2011 at 9:57 am
There has been much talk and debate about solar panels recently; most of it about solar PV and the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT). However, there is another game in town and it is potentially far larger than solar PV. Space and water heating in buildings accounts for nearly 70% of the energy consumed by the…
Posted in: Solar heat & hot water
Using range cookers and wood burning stoves with a back boiler to heat your home
Posted by HETAS on 4th January 2012 at 11:29 am
There are several ways of using biomass to heat the home. I recently blogged about independent biomass boilers that run on pellets, wood chip and logs. However, there are two other noteworthy ways of using a biomass fuel source in conjunction with a central heating system. Although these appli…
Posted in: Biomass
Make sure your biomass stove or boiler is not poisoning you
Posted by HETAS on 6th February 2012 at 9:08 am
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas. It is produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. CO has no taste, smell or colour and can be present in the fumes (combustion products) of gas, oil, solid mineral fuel or biomass burning appliances. If a biomass stove or boiler is correctly inst…
Posted in: Biomass
Readers tips of the month - biomass and solar
Posted by Cathy Debenham on 20th February 2012 at 12:39 pm
This month's first tip comes from Lewis, a retired university lecturer who is still active as a runner, orienteer, and log collector. He has installed a wood burning stove for hot water and three radiators (gravity circulation). He self-installed solar hot water in 2010 (which means he won't be e…
Posted in: Biomass, Solar electricity, Solar heat & hot water
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