Planning and regulations relating to biomass installations

18th September 2009

About CEN

CEN is a growing environmental organisation of around 80 people.

Founded in 1997 our mission is to: Alleviate fuel poverty Provide environmental benefit through CO2 reduction Develop the market for energy efficiency and renewable energy

To date we have: Lifted over 4,000 people out of fuel poverty Offset over 100 million kg of CO2 with over £15,000,000 of installed

energy efficiency improvements Implemented nearly 100 community scale renewable energy installations

in London and the SE

CEN Biomass Services

Project implementation services: Site assessments & feasibility studies System design and financial appraisals Grant funding and planning support Tendering for biomass installation Tendering & negotiating fuel supply contracts

General work: Developing fuel supply chains and infrastructure Training, education and promotion Masterplanning & district heating Resource assessments

Clean Air Act

Originally enacted in the 1950s to combat the smogs Prohibits the emission of dark smoke Smoke control areas – where are they?

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk

Where are the smoke control areas? www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk

Clean Air Act 1993

Originally enacted in the 1950s to combat the smogs Prohibits the emission of dark smoke Smoke control areas – where are they?

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk Exempt appliances Smokeless fuels

Chimney Height Approval If burning at a rate of 45.4 kg/hr or more

Moisture content % Wood Net CV GJ/t    

% GJ/t kWh/t kWh per 45.4kg Boiler rating (kW)

5% 17.92 4,978 226 192

10% 16.84 4,678 212 181

20% 14.68 4,078 185 157

30% 12.52 3,478 158 134

40% 10.36 2,878 131 111

50% 8.20 2,278 103 88

60% 6.04 1,678 76 65

What is 45.4kg/hr in real money?

Note: This calculation assumes an 85% efficient boiler.

Planning Permission

Planning permission is not normally required for biomass systems as long as the work is internal. There may be complications if:

Chimney / flue is unusually high / unusually located You need a new building / plant room / fuel store Conservation area / World Heritage Site / Listed building

Other considerations

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) http://www.airquality.co.uk/laqm/laqm.php

Other considerations

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) http://www.airquality.co.uk/laqm/laqm.php

Environmental Permitting Regulations Waste Incineration Directive Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations

Building Regulations Part J - Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems

Finding an installer

Boilers: http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/

Stoves: http://www.hetas.co.uk/

Thank you for listening!

Tom Vosper

tomvosper@cen.org.uk