When plant life grows it absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This plant life or organic matter can be processed to create fuels that can be used to generate heat and power. When biomass products are burned to create energy, they return the same amount of CO2 to the atmosphere as if they decompose naturally. This means that properly managed biomass does not disturb the carbon balance and does not contribute to climate change. As long as new plants continue to grow in place of those used for fuel, the process is sustainable.

Materials such as waste wood, straw and other crop residues and crops grown specifically for energy production such as willow and miscanthus grass can be used as fuel in biomass systems. Having been harvested and dried, the feed product is burned at high temperatures. The heat produced is used to turn water into steam. This steam turns a turbine which generates electricity. Good Energy has a stringent biogeneration procurement policy and only buys electricity from biogeneration which meets strict environmental criteria.

The Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will enable domestic biomass and other renewable heat technologies to claim payments for the heat that they are generating from October 2012.

Click here to read about the biomass boiler which Good Energy invested in on behalf of our customers  at St Mary’s school in Tisbury.

Click here for more information about Biomass