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Electricity

Generating Electricity Using Wood
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There is considerable interest in the use of wood fuel for generating electricity in the UK. Biomass has several advantages over other renewable sources of electricity.

Advantages of biomass electricity

It is a predictable and controllable source, making it the ideal complement for intermittent renewables, and providing financial advantages under the New Electricity Trading Arrangements that penalise unpredictable suppliers.

Although a plant will need to be near the source of fuel, there is some flexibility in its exact siting allowing optimisation of other factors such as availability of suitable electricity network and potential heat loads for combined heat and power (CHP) generation.

Biomass power plants are relatively small scale (1 - 100 MW) allowing them to be embedded into local grid infrastructure, reducing transmission losses and potentially strengthening weak rural power networks.

Government incentives for renewable electricity

There were many proposals for biomass generation during the UK government's Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) scheme (1989 - 98) but very few have come to fruition due to technical, financial and regulatory difficulties.

The Government's new measure to encourage renewable generation is the Renewable Obligation. This sets a target for all electricity suppliers to obtain a rising portion of their power from renewable sources amounting to 10% by 2010. Renewable generators receive certificates - ROC's - for every megawatt-hour they produce. Suppliers must produce enough ROC's each year to show they have met the target, or pay a 'buy-out' charge. The resulting market for ROC's makes renewable electricity far more valuable than regular 'brown' power from fossil and nuclear sources. This is helping to create positive market forces to develop renewably powered electrical generation.

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Electricity Generating Electricity Using Wood There is considerable interest in the use of wood fuel for generating electricity in the UK. Biomass has several advantages over other renewable sources of electricity. Advantages of biomass electricity It is a predictable and controllable source, making it the ideal complement for intermittent renewables, and providing financial advantages under the New Electricity Trading Arrangements that penalise unpredictable suppliers. Although a plant will need to be near the source of fuel, there is some flexibility in its exact siting allowing optimisation of other factors such as availability of suitable electricity network and potential heat loads for combined heat and power (CHP) generation. Biomass power plants are relatively small scale (1 - 100 MW) allowing them to be embedded into local grid infrastructure, reducing transmission losses and potentially strengthening weak rural power networks. Government incentives for renewable electricity There were many proposals for biomass generation during the UK government's Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) scheme (1989 - 98) but very few have come to fruition due to technical, financial and regulatory difficulties. The Government's new measure to encourage renewable generation is the Renewable Obligation. This sets a target for all electricity suppliers to obtain a rising portion of their power from renewable sources amounting to 10% by 2010. Renewable generators receive certificates - ROC's - for every megawatt-hour they produce. Suppliers must produce enough ROC's each year to show they have met the target, or pay a 'buy-out' charge. The resulting market for ROC's makes renewable electricity far more valuable than regular 'brown' power from fossil and nuclear sources. This is helping to create positive market forces to develop renewably powered electrical generation. <<< Previous: Storage and Delivery	SEARCH Find a supplier In this section Technical Wood fuel for a better landscape Sustainability Local jobs for local people The cleanest fuel Where to buy wood fuel How to burn wood Chimneys Wood fuel costs Logs & Firewood Wood Chip Supply options Fuel quality Classification Boilers Fuel handling Fuel storage Wood pellets Storage and Delivery Electricity Contact us Unit 7 Dyfi Eco Park, Machynlleth, Powys SY20 8AX (+44) (0)845 456 0342
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