energy : fuel
Woodfuel
Woodfuel has been around as long as humans have known about fire. It is also the fuel of the 21st Century. Why? Much recent work has been going on to encourage and develop wood as a fuel. Government is current considering the Woodfuel Strategy for England. The Forestry Commission have been developing the strategy as a response to the Biomass Taskforce Report, published by the Government in 2005.
What benefits can woodfuel deliver?
There are a number of excellent reasons why wood is making a come-back as a fuel. The efficiency
of modern woodfired boilers and heating plant is astonishingly high - modern boilers can be 95%
efficient! The net carbon emission from burning wood are very low if trees are planted to
replace those felled to provide fuel. The carbon released during burning is balanced by the
carbon absorbed by the growing trees. There is also a boost to the local economy of timber
producing regions in the U.K.
Check out more information at the website of the
National Energy Foundation.
The Benefits of developing Woodfuel resources in the UK?
- Achieve a carbon saving in England of 500,000 Tonnes per annum
- Provide a renewable energy supply eqvivalent to 3.6 million barrels of oil
- Help tackle fuel poverty and security of supply issues
- Help bring native semi-natural woodlands back into good condition
- and halt bio-diversity decline in under-managed woodlands
- Create new economic opportunities in rural areas
- Promote Sustainability and empower communities to practise "one planet living"
Woodfuel can be sourced from woodland and timber resources of all kinds:
- Ancient and semi-natural woodlands
- Coniferous plantation woodlands
- Neglected or active coppice woodlands
- Short rotation coppice planting
- Farm woodlands and hedgerow cuttings
- Waste wood from timber processing
Solar Heating
Solar Heating - capital costs put people off in the past, but cost have fallen and solar water heating is able to make a real contribution to reducing energy bills for both households and businesses. The main benefits of solar water heating systems are:
- Fulfil 100% of summer domestic hot water needs
- Meet approximately 50% of winter domestic hot water needs
- reduce carbon dioxide emission by about 400kg - depending on the fuel source replaced
Solar water heating can be used in the home or for larger applications such as swimming pools. In a domestic system there are three main elements: the solar panel, a heat exchanger/transfer pump and an insulated hot water storage cylinder. The solar panels (covering 2 to 4 sq metres) are fitted onto a roof that is south facing and benefits from direct sunlight for the majority of the day.
Check the webpages of the Solar Trade Association and the Energy Saving Trust for more information on Solar Heating.
Ground Source Heatpumps
Ground Source Heatpump Association -
information about what G S heatpumps are, where to buy
systems etc can be found on the pages of this newly formed association by
clicking here.
Bio-gas
Anerobic Digestion(AD) - bio-gas production:
- AD is a natural process which stablises organic waste
- AD turns waste into useable products - fertiliser and bio-gas
- Bio-gas is 60% methane and 40% Carbon Dioxide
- AD takes place in land fill site in a uncontrolled manner
- Digester Plant gives control and collection of gas
- More information on AD is available from Greenfinch
