May 3, 2024 Air Quality, Biomass Boilers

A Q&A with Terence McCracken 

Terence McCracken is Innasol’s UK and Ireland Sales Director, and chairman of the REA’s Wood Heat Forum, where he is the energetic and authoritative voice of the Biomass Heating industry. 

We spoke with Terence about business incentives to switch to green heat, the question of biomass and air quality, and why the government should take a different approach to supporting the switch to renewables. 

What do the authorities get wrong about wood heat? 

That is an interesting question. If we go back to the mid-2010s and the Renewable Heat Incentive [RHI]. It got off to a flying start around 2012 and biomass became the most widely adopted renewable technology. 

Although the RHI kick-started the market, it was quite weak on controls and standards. 

The government saw demand going up quickly, and the budget disappearing, so they put in place degressions to slow the market down. The trouble was when the dates of the tariff drop were announced, that led to a rush of installations to beat the deadline and get the better tariff. That resulted in rushed installations that aren’t necessarily the best quality. 

The studies into the RHI and the boilers installed reached a number of conclusions. One that stood out was a concern about particulate emissions. That came about because a lot of those poor-quality installs were ‘short cycling’, which is when they generate a little bit of heat, then shut down again — it’s a very inefficient way to burn fuel, and the ‘start-up’ phase is where those boilers generate the greatest particulate emissions. That is what skewed the findings about biomass boilers and air quality.  

Now, in the corridors of Whitehall, where they wanted to dampen the demand for biomass, this was probably a good stick to beat the wood heat industry with. When they wanted to justify ending support for biomass, they pointed to those sub-optimal installs, and said, ‘Well, your air quality impact isn’t good.’ 

So how do biomass boilers affect air quality? 

A modern biomass boiler is manufactured to the most exacting specifications. It uses minimum fuel to create maximum heat. In a modern biomass boiler tiny particulates are all captured and disposed of in the ash removal system, there are filters, there are flues, and any particulates that remain are extremely minimal. 

Modern electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) capture 90% of those minimal particulates that might have escaped. It’s a powerful, cost-effective, and clean way to heat your business now. 

Contrast that with a traditional fire — the soot goes up the chimney, the ash falls down, and that’s it. And the fuel that goes in, nobody knows what it is. It could be wet, it could be dry, you could be burning refuse in there for all anyone knows. 

The government seems to be favouring heat pumps over biomass for renewable heat these days. Are heat pumps or biomass boilers a better choice for businesses? 

We’re firmly technology agnostic, because to be honest with you, in modern buildings that are extremely well insulated and have a low heat demand, a heat pump is exactly the way forward. 

However, in older buildings and properties where energy efficiency is unrealistic, those off the gas grid, then biomass is the sustainable route. Not least because the power requirement for the heat pump in those cases would require an upgrade of the power lines, and the radiators and pipework would need upgrading as well. That becomes extremely expensive. 

Plus, with a fuel like wood chips, that is available locally, creating local jobs and keeping the travel distance of fuel to a minimum. It’s by far the best way to heat sustainably. 

What change would you like to see in how the government supports sustainable heating? 

The biggest change I would like to see is for there to be one consistent policy that doesn’t favour one technology over another. At the moment, the government are distinctly favouring solutions that require electrification. When the government favours one technology over another, mistakes start to be made, and that technology is installed in the wrong scenario. 

Policy needs to allow all technology to thrive, to let the market decide. 

Biomass isn’t always the right solution, but when it is, it’s the perfect solution. It’s not right in small houses, in new developments, but where there are heating schemes, where there are large buildings, it is the right choice. 

Right now, there is no assistance for a business with the initial investment in biomass heating. We would like the government to revisit its policy. 

We have to admit that replacing an oil boiler with a wood chip boiler might take a significant investment.  What would really incentivise businesses to switch to renewable heat would be help with that capital outlay. They don’t need ongoing payment like the RHI gave, because biomass fuel costs are much lower than oil, and that is an incentive in itself. 

So, whether it’s a government grant, or a government-backed loan at very low interest rates, whatever the mechanism that initial support would be the appropriate way forward. 

Any closing thoughts? 

As an industry, we’re crying out for proper conversations with DESNZ and DEFRA. We want to know why under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, we are treated differently. We want to understand why the language of biomass has almost been written out. We would hope they can revisit some of their thinking and some of their misapprehensions.  

We can prove, with questions like air quality, that there is a substantial difference between what they believe and what is the case. We have incredible products, and technology that can deliver able to deliver almost carbon-free heating. Biomass is not always the answer, but when it is, it’s the only answer. Current policy is holding back businesses from replacing antiquated, high-carbon systems, and biomass needs to be treated as part of the solution. 
 
If you’d like to find out more about which green energy is suitable for your business, you can read our Guide to Green Business Energy. Or if you’d like to speak to someone for advice and guidance, we have a nationwide network of expert installers who are ready to offer no-obligation advice about heat and power. Get in touch on 01621 892613.