This document discusses biomass as an environmental technology system. It defines biomass as biological material derived from living or recently living organisms, including both plant and animal material. Biomass is a renewable, low-carbon fuel available in the UK that can provide environmental and social benefits if managed sustainably. Properly managed biomass can deliver significant carbon emission reductions compared to fossil fuels. The document also discusses biomass systems, considerations for biomass installations, building regulation requirements, advantages and disadvantages of biomass systems.

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PowerPointpresentation
Biomass
Unit 301: Understand the fundamental principles
and requirements of environmental technology
systems

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Biomass
Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living
organisms.
In the context of biomass for energy this is often used to mean plant
based material, but biomass can equally apply to both animal and
vegetable derived material.

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Biomass
Biomass is a renewable, low carbon fuel that is already widely available
throughout the UK.
Its production and use also brings additional environmental and social
benefits.
Correctly managed, biomass is a sustainable fuel that can deliver a
significant reduction in net carbon emissions when compared with fossil
fuels.

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Biomass
There is no reason why the production and use of biomass can't be
sustainable.
The main source of biomass in the UK is timber from forestry, which
falls under the remit of the Forestry Act (1967).

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Biomass vs. fossil fuels
The vital difference between biomass and fossil fuels is one of time
scale.
Biomass takes carbon out of the atmosphere while it is growing, and
returns it as it is burned.
If it is managed on a sustainable basis, biomass is harvested as part of
a constantly replenished crop.

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Biomass systems
Wood-fuelled domestic heating systems are also called biomass
systems; they burn wood pellets, chips or logs to provide warmth in a
single room or to power central heating and hot water boilers.

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Installation considerations
A Biomass boiler is larger than a traditional gas- or oil-fired model it will
need to be located in a larger area.
Fuel-storage facilities will be required nearby.
A regular supply of biological matter will be needed to fuel the system.
You may not need planning permission,
but you should always check.
All new wood heating systems have to
comply with building regulations.

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Building Regulations requirements
In England and Wales installation work relating to domestic solid fuel,
wood and biomass and the associated systems for heating, controls,
hot water, etc are subject to Building Regulations.
The Approved Documents F, J, L, G, P are applicable and most work is
notifiable to the relevant Local Authority.

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Advantages of biomass
• Biomass is a sustainable fuel source if managed
correctly, ie trees need to be planted to replace
those used.
• It's virtually carbon neutral.
• If biomass boilers are well maintained and
run they will produce very little smoke.
• Biomass is a good way of using up waste wood.
• Biomass fuels are less susceptible to price increases than
traditional fuels such as oil and gas.
• If you replace a coal or electric heating system with biomass you
can reduce your carbon dioxide output by around 9.5 tonnes per
annum.

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• The boilers need more space.
• Only a small number of biomass systems
can be used in a smokeless zone.
• Biomass fuel cost.
• Initial costs are high compared with traditional gas or oil
installations.
• Fuel needs to be kept dry if it is to burn cleanly and efficiently.
• It's more labour intensive than traditional gas or oil installations.
• You'll need a reliable supply of fuel as all the various types of
biomass fuel are not always readily available close to your home.
Disadvantages of biomass

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