Biomass are carbon neutral energy systems that use the combustion of organic matter to provide heating, hot water or electricity.

Biomass heating systems are considered carbon neutral because any carbon produced whilst burning the fuel is re-absorbed by the fuel being grown. Biomass can be anything from simple log burning stoves, wood chip boilers, and straw burners, to fully automated processed wood pellet burners.

There are almost as many alternative burning systems as there are applications. In general however, a Biomass system that best suits the environment in which it is being installed should be selected. For example, if you happen to own a forest, select a wood or woodchip burner with or without an automatic feeder. If you want convenience you should select a pellet based system. Although it might be more expensive to run than your own wood, it is cheaper than oil and a lot more environmentally friendly.

Biomass' green credentials depend on the closed carbon system used to fuel the systems.

When Biomass is used for heating, it is simply combustion that provides heating or hot water. But when Biomass is producing electricity, the heat produced is used to power a turbine rather than heat water or a property.

The Biomass carbon cycle.