| Energy
Biomass: Viable solution or just hot air?
Biomass boilers can provide a sustainable heating solution for farmers who are looking to reduce their heating costs
and in turn, provides access to the government’s Renewable heat incentive scheme (RHI).
e asked the Renewable Energy
Association to explain exactly
what biomass energy is and
how it might be of benefit to
farmers and those living in rural
locations that are ‘off-gas’.
Q1: Can you explain what biomass heating is
and how it could be of benefit to farmers and
those in a rural location.
Biomass heating is the use of sources such
as wood chips and wood pellets to produce
heat from a boiler or stove. There are several
forms of biomass which include waste wood,
biodiesel, and energy crops.
Farmers and those living in rural settings will
have access to a range of such resources and
may be better able to utilise these than those in
urban settings. In particular, buildings and
space for storing such resources are more
widespread in these locations, for example
sheds for suitably storing woodfuel.
Many in rural locations will also be off the
gas grid and as such pay higher costs for their
heating from oil sources. Biomass heating can
reduce these costs while providing a high heat
load , making it one of the most cost-effective
forms of low carbon energy.
In addition:
Wood heating is one of the lowest cost
technologies for delivering the