Biomass energy is the use of organic material to generate energy. Biomass fuel is simply organic matter, such as wood pellets, grass clippings plus dung.

P.H Winterton and Son is the leading biomass energy supplier, using wood residue from our sawmill waste collection service which can be burnt in a boiler and used for electricity and industrial heating.

Here we will answer some of those burning questions you may have about this energy source.

When Was Biomass Fuel First Used?

While you could say it was discovered back when man lived in caves and realised that wood could burn, it was much later when it was truly utilised. Back in the 13th-century explorer Marco Polo noted the processes that could create biofuels after seeing the Chinese using covered sewage tanks to create biogas.

In the late 1800s, Rudolf Diesel invented a biofuel engine powered by vegetable oil and this was before petroleum-based diesel fuel became widely available.

How Does Biomass Generate Electricity?

Biomass fuel generates electricity in a number of ways, with the most common being combustion. This means burning agricultural waste or woody materials to heat water and produce steam that spins turbines.

In some biomass plants, excess steam can also be used in on-site manufacturing processes or heating, which increases the energy efficiency of biomass electricity generation to around 80%.

How Much Energy Does Biomass Energy Contain?

Energy is measured in joules, with wood, which is commonly used for biomass, containing around 15 megajoules per kg. If it is dried before it is burned, it is boosted to around 18 megajoules per kg.

Get in Touch For More Information

If you would like to know more about biomass wood pellets from P.H Winterton and Son, please contact us today.

We currently offer P16 and P35 wood pellets, which can be used in biomass boilers. Read some of our Testimonials to get a better idea of the quality of our products and service.