An introduction to biomass heating for horticulture

Read on to find out about some of the key factors to consider when installing a biomass boiler system. These include the different types of fuel available, sizing the biomass boiler system and the flue-gas emissions standards.

Biomass heating has been taken up at a pace since the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and certain patterns of uptake and best buying strategies emerged.

In the early days, most applications were for boilers with a capacity of under 200 kilowatts (kW). However, 14% of applications were for boilers with a capacity in the range of 200 kW to 1,000 kW – and this is still the most popular area for horticultural applications, trending towards the larger end as the RHI scheme draws towards its close.

In horticulture, the most popular fuels used are woodchip, straw and (for small systems) wood pellets. We compare the characteristics of each type and discuss general fuel issues.

Read about the factors to consider when sizing a biomass boiler system, including the weekly heat demand profile. Learn about the flue-gas emission standards required for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) eligibility.