Other biomass

Briquettes

Solid wood fuel, formed as cubes or into cylindrical lengths, produced by compressing pulverised biomass.

Energy crops

Energy crops are grown specifically for use as fuel and offer high output with low inputs.

Crops grown for renewable energy are playing an increasingly important role in sustainable development and agricultural diversification. There are two main energy crops currently used for power generation: short-rotation coppice and miscanthus.

Linseed, bean and rape straw

These fuels have a lower cost than cereal straw, and also have lower ash content.

Waste grains/residues/tailings e.g. peas, beans, seeds etc.

There is a wide range of biomass materials that are produced as by-products, residues or wastes from some other process, operation or industry. Many of these have a valuable energy content that can usefully be exploited. In many cases this may have the added benefit of diverting the material from landfill.

Food production produces a huge quantity of waste, both before it reaches the consumer, and afterwards. Many industrial processes produce both woody and non-woody wastes and there’s a vast quantity of this type of material in the UK. Many agricultural crops and livestock produce wastes and residues that can in some cases be used directly on the farm from which they derive, minimising transportation costs and emissions.