The production of heat currently accounts for almost half
of the UK's carbon emissions. Using biomass materials (such as
wood, straw, or energy crops) as a fuel to produce heat, hot water
or to raise steam for space and process heating could significantly
reduce this as biomass fuels have far lower net carbon emissions
than the fossil fuels from which the majority of the UK's heat is
produced.
The documents on this page give guidance on the technology, help
you assess the potential for biomass heating on your site, and
offer advice on procurement, installation and operation of biomass
heating systems:
Initial
assessment tool (xls 565kB): This tool allows you to
make an initial economic assessment of a proposed biomass plant
based on site information.
Decision support
tool: This design tool helps you to assess the optimum
size of biomass boiler and heat storage and the control strategy
for a proposed biomass system
Fuel supply
map: a searchable database of biomass fuel
suppliers.
Guides
Biomass
heating - A practical guide for potential users: a
guide for potential users of biomass heating equipment covering
details of the technology and advice on procurement and
operation.
Contracting guide gives guidance on
contracts for biomass installations.
Fuel procurement guide provides advice
on setting up a biomass fuel supply.
Health
and safety guide published by the Combustion
Engineering Association.
Reports
Overview
of the Biomass Heat Accelerator (2012) summarises
findings and outputs from the BHA.
The 2005
Biomass sector review identified the significant
contribution that solid fuel biomass heating could make to the
UK's low carbon heating targets.
Template documents
Template documents to help guide the development of your biomass
heating system. These resources have been prepared with input from
some of the UK's leading experts in biomass heating technology.
They are provided for general guidance purposes only. The Carbon
Trust recommends, and these resources assume, that prospective
users will take advice on their specific needs and circumstances
from professionals in the field, including not only technical
consultants and installers, but legal, planning and others as
required.
Template request for
proposal (RFP) sheets (pdf, 110kb)
Guidance to help ensure that site developers request appropriate
information from prospective installers/suppliers
Template contracts*
Template
contract for Supply of Biomass Fuel (doc,
88kb)
Guidance
Notes for Biomass Supply (pdf, 64kb)
Template contract for
Supply of Heat Energy (doc, 84.5kb)
Guidance Notes
for Supply of Heat (pdf, 64kb)
Template
Operation and Maintenance Agreement (doc,
158.5kb)
Guidance Notes for
Operation and Maintenance Agreement (pdf,
47kb)
Template Services
Agreement (doc, 159.5kb)
Guidance Notes for
Services Agreement (pdf, 47kb)
*Contracts - legal disclaimer
For the avoidance of doubt, these documents are in a non-binding,
recommended form. Their intention is to be used as a starting point
for negotiation only. Individual parties are free to depart from
their terms and should always satisfy themselves of the regulatory
and commercial implications of their use. If any user has concerns
or queries about the form of this document we recommend that the
user seek independent legal advice. The Carbon Trust accepts no
liability for any loss, direct or otherwise, arising from the use
of all or any part of these documents.
Biomass boiler case
studies
Sewstern
sawmill (pdf)
Fonthill primary
school (pdf)
BSW sawmill (pdf)
Lochaber Leisure
Centre (pdf)
National
Botanic Garden of Wales (pdf)
Oncoland (pdf)
Plockton
school (pdf)
This guidance was produced through the Carbon Trust Biomass Heat
Accelerator project.
Further support
We offer financing and implementation support for organisations
seeking to invest in low carbon equipment, including
installation of biomass boilers - for more details
visit our Implementation & finance page.
Or see our services to find out how
we can help your organisation cut energy costs and gain
a competitive edge in a challenging economic
climate.