Biomass heating
Biomass is a generic term referring to organic materials that can be used as fuels (sometimes called bio-feedstock). Biomass differs from fossil fuels because of the timescale required for its regeneration and replacement. Whilst both take carbon out of the environment during their creation, before releasing it when used as a fuel, fossil fuels deplete much much faster than they can be replaced (by thousand of years in the natural cycle) so are not sustainable whereas biomass can be replaced in cycles of between 10 and 50 years depending on the fuel used, and so may be considered 'carbon neutral'.
Solid bioenergy options include woodchips and pellets. Using these types of biomass fuel as a heating source is well established across Europe and the UK. The use of biomass as an energy source is traditionally through combustion within a biomass boiler, providing hot water. This technology can be a central boiler supplying heat via district heating or individual biomass stoves or boilers in each property.
Biomass fuel can also be used to generate power through Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology. Smallscalebiomass CHP systems are in development, but they are still considered to be an emerging technology. The specific requirements of a biomass CHP system are similar to a biomass boiler, with the notable difference being additional spacerequirements, particularly height.
Featured articles and news
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.
Digital technology, transformation and cybersecurity
Supporting SMEs through Digitalisation in Construction.
Villa Wolf in Gubin, history and reconstruction. Book review.
Construction contract awards down £1bn
Decline over the past two months compared to the same period last year, follows the positive start to the year.
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
The pace of heating change; BSRIA market intelligence
Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.