The term biomass is used to describe fuel that is derived from animal or vegetable material, i.e. organic material, of recent origin, rather than a fossil fuel that has taken millions of years to develop. It is usually derived directly from trees or crops but can be provided indirectly from industrial, commercial or agricultural waste.
It absorbs carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere while it is growing and therefore cancels out any produced during combustion. By managing a programme of continual replanting, the carbon dioxide balance can be maintained, making biomass an almost carbon neutral fuel
Most commonly, wood pellets and logs are used for fuel, but wood chips and grain offer viable alternatives for some biomass boilers. Wood pellets are produced from wood chips and sawdust that are a by product of the wood industry.
When considering biomass, it is important to take into account the fuel availability - long transportation routes only negate the carbon savings, so local, managed fuel sources must be a priority. Once a local supply is established, the household is independent of rising fossil fuel prices and the risk of shortage as natural reserves become more depleted.
Baxi Multi Heat boiler operates very simply. It uses wood pellets that are stored in a hopper at the back of the boiler. A feeder mechanism takes the correct quantity of fuel from the hopper into the combustion chamber, where a precise mixture of air is introduced, resulting in extremely efficient heat production (89-91 per cent efficiency). Multi Heat biomass boilers are easy to use and maintain and operate very cleanly and efficiently when installed correctly.
Baxi Solo Innova is a log burning stove that is available in outputs of 20 to 50 kW. It is designed to be installed in conjunction with a buffer vessel. These are particularly suited to larger (three bedrooms and larger) homes in rural areas where space for the necessary plant is not such an issue.
