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For small-scale domestic applications of biomass the fuel usually takes the form of wood pellets, wood chips and wood logs. We are generally familiar with wood chips and logs. Wood pellets are a compact form of wood, which have low moisture content and a high energy density. Although, they are currently more expensive than logs and wood chip, they are easier to handle and ideal for automated systems.

Applications - Individual Dwellings
There are four main methods of using biomass to heat a domestic property:

Stand-alone stoves providing space heating for a room.
Stoves with back boilers - supplying domestic hot water.
Ranges - used for cooking as well.
Boilers - connected to central heating and hot water systems.

Stoves can achieve efficiencies of more than 80%; they produce from as little as a few kilowatts of heat to 15kW or more. They are normally used to provide background heating whilst adding aesthetic value, as they are designed to be located in the living area of the house itself. Although many wood-burning stoves act as space heaters only, the higher output versions may be fitted with an integral back boiler to provide domestic hot water, and if required, central heating via radiators.

Costs

Wood pellets are very competitive on price compared to conventional fossil fuels, although nearly twice the price of wood chips. However the capital cost of the boiler installation is significantly greater than conventional systems. This is due to the more complicated feeding mechanisms and the currently smaller market for pellet systems. You may be eligible for a grant if you install a certain type of biomass heating system.

Of all the renewable sources of energy, biomass is unique in that it is effectively stored solar energy. Furthermore, it is the only renewable source of carbon, and is able to be processed into convenient solid, liquid and gas fuels. Biomass can be used directly (e.g. burning wood for heating and cooking) or indirectly by converting it into a liquid or gas fuel (e.g. ethanol from sugar crops or biogas from animal waste). The current cheapest form of biomass energy for the self-builder in the UK is to burn wood chips or wood pellets to create warm rooms and hot water.