An investigation into the technical and financial viability of biomass heating systems for greenhouse horticulture in the UK

Alternative energy sources for greenhouse heating are attracting increasing interest because of the continued need to reduce costs and carbon emissions. Biomass, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is one way of meeting these pressures. This project focussed on dry biomass fuels as they are most readily converted into heat by simple combustion.

The project found that biomass heating equipment is sufficiently technically developed to be applied to protected horticulture in the UK. However, the economics are currently marginal. The best opportunities currently exist for ornamentals growers who do not use CO₂ enrichment and whose main heating fuel is gas oil.

The objectives of this project were to:

1. Provide guidance to the UK protected cropping sector on the suitability of biomass heating systems.
2. Identify different biomass fuels and heating technologies, and the technical and economic issues involved in their use.
3. Provide guidance regarding the sizing of heat store and boiler combinations using heat & CO₂ consumption data from commercial nurseries.
4. Make recommendations on any future work which might be required to advance biomass heating in UK protected cropping.