Following a recent report from DECC (the Department of Energy and Climate Change) which questioned the efficiency of biomass boilers, Rural Energy is calling for greater emphasis on training and correct system design to ensure biomass heating installations perform as expected.

The company, which is one of the UK’s most experienced biomass suppliers and installers, with more than 12 years in the industry, argues that a better understanding of the numerous variables that contribute to the real-life performance of biomass heating systems would eliminate many of the inefficiencies highlighted in the DECC report.

In most instances, lower than expected boiler performance can be attributed to poor system design and maintenance, issues that can be avoided easily by working with a reputable biomass partner. Common problems include inadequate fuel feed design, lack of operator knowledge in regards to the control systems and substandard boiler commissioning – all of which can be rectified with proper specialist advice.

Guidance can also be sought from CIBSE’s recent publication AM15: Biomass Heating, which seeks to address the requirement for a comprehensive technical guide to biomass installation.

Paul Clark, Managing Director of Rural Energy commented: “For the UK to develop a successful, long-term renewable energy supply, we need to adopt a mixture of technologies – selecting the most appropriate solution for each application. It’s important to remember that the renewables sector is still relatively young and, as with all new technologies, there is necessarily a learning period while best practice is established.

“The biomass market, however, has matured more quickly than others, so it’s essential that the more experienced players set the standard for the industry by sharing the knowledge and experience they have built up. Establishing a well-trained and highly skilled workforce is critical to protecting the reputation of the industry as a whole, as well as ensuring the distribution network has the capability to deliver the standard of installation that is expected.”

To tackle this problem, Rural Energy recently opened a £150,000 purpose-built training facility at its headquarters in Leicestershire. The fully equipped 1,800 square foot training space allows students to obtain practical experience of operating and commissioning a range of industry-leading Herz biomass boilers – of which Rural Energy is the only UK supplier.

Critically though, training is only one part of the solution. To deliver a truly efficient and sustainable biomass heating sector, there must be a solid commitment to professionalism and consistently high standards right across the industry. In that capacity, Rural Energy works closely with a number of stakeholders, including consultants, contractors and end-users, sharing expertise and advising on correct system design and management to achieve the desired in-situ results.