Renewables for Households: Biomass

Rethinking household energy provision – Biomass systems for the 21st Century.

Heat from biomass is one of our oldest forms of energy use, and still has a lot to offer in the 21^st century. This course will help you to explore the options and suitability of biomass systems for your house, community or business.

Key information

Duration: one day
Upcoming date: Saturday 25th Feb 2023
Start and finish times: starts at 10am and ends at 4.30pm on the last day
Fee: £80
Includes: tuition, all materials
What to bring: waterproof clothing is recommended
Terms and Conditions:
- you must be 18 years or over to attend our courses.
- For full list of terms and conditions click here

What you will learn

During the course we will examine different biomass systems available, from domestic biomass boilers (batch and continuous pellet/chip) to thermal accumulators and stove systems. You will develop an understanding of how biomass works, looking at combustion, heat transfer and fuel moisture content. We will look at the importance of wood fuel storage and management for complete combustion, which minimises harmful emissions.

You will learn how to determine the energy availability of biomass and calculate the optimum size of a system. We will then develop a cost benefit analysis and quantify the potential emissions to enable you to assess which system is right for your needs.

A basic knowledge of MS Excel (or equivalent) is desirable for this course.

Renewables for Households courses

This course is part of a series exploring renewable energy technologies for households. Each course can be taken as a standalone or as a series where they will equip you with the skills and knowledge to implement different renewable technologies in your home.

Meet your tutor

Alan is a Charted Energy Engineer and lecturer on our postgraduate courses here at CAT. His research ranges from numerical modelling of sustainable energy systems and resources in Europe, to developing international sustainable energy policy and strategy in post-conflict/post-disaster areas of South East Asia.