T
he UK biomass sector has evolved rapidly with OFGEM reporting that some 11,000
solid biomass installations are now accredited within the Renewable Heat Incentive (“RHI”) schemes. Much of this sector has developed around the combustion of clean recycled (Grade A) waste wood and virgin biomass which has created soaring demand for these fuels and has resulted in stiff competition for Grade A waste wood and large-scale imports of virgin biomass.
Whilst the upper tier of the waste wood market has prospered due to readily available market outlets, the picture in the lower grade segment of the market couldn’t be more diff erent. Grade B and C material, which includes painted and treated timbers as well as particle board materials, require treatment in a facility that complies with the Waste Incineration Directive (“WID”), which requires specifi c requirements for combustion conditions, e.g. temperature and residence, time as well as fl ue gas treatment and monitoring.
Gate fees for utilising merchant WID compliant facilities are commonly upwards of £80 per tonne and the level of this disposal charge has resulted in stockpiling of material at many transfer station sites. T is in turn has prompted regulatory
concerns on issues such as the defi nition of recycling and also compliance matters such as fi re risk. Across the industry, there is a broad consensus that more can be done to make better use of low grade wood which is currently stockpiled, or disposed of through costly treatment routes.
HEAT
T is recognition of improvement potential comes at a time when technological evolution is driving new market opportunities as small scale WID compliant combustion systems that are suited to low grade waste wood become available on the market. T ese systems, which typically start at around 1MW of heat output (equivalent to a consumption of around 1,400 tonnes per annum of waste wood input), align to the requirements of WID and enable low grade waste wood to be combusted on the site at which it arises, with the heat being utilised in site operations. Where eligible heat uses can be identifi ed, the installation can qualify for tariff payments under the non- domestic RHI scheme, providing an additional commercial benefi t alongside the cost saving on low grade wood disposal charges.
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