Wood and all vegetable material is known as 'Biomass'.

Burning biomass as fuel is described as carbon neutral, as it is a Non-Renewable and Renewable if replanted when used.

This also means that it releases no more greenhouse gas than was absorbed by the Biomass as it grew. All Biomass fuels do require some level of energy input while processing and transport, but so do fossil fuels. As long as biomass fuels are promoted in a sustainable way their effort on the earth's atmosphere is to a minimum.

In the home, automated wood fuel boilers are refuelled with wood chips or pellets. The prices are competitive much like oil, LPG or coal, especially if you have access to the mains gas network. These wood chips or pellets burn very efficiently so smoke is minimal. Cheaper pellet systems are more suitable to single homes but larger buildings or groups of buildings would benefit from cheaper wood chip. Installation cost of a stove can very around £3000 and roughly £11, 500 for a complete domestic pellet boiler system, you would also get financial cash back with the Renewble Heat Incentive.

Biomass heating, by domestic or communal boilers as well as combined heat & power systems, are used widely in many parts of Europe. Scotland, with its large and growing supplies of maturing softwoods, is well placed to tap into this market, given the right encouragement. Grants for boilers and equipment are now available. Good opportunities are presenting themselves for both users and suppliers.