Notes from Nick!

An Ancient Energy - 14th November 2008

Biomass

I was asked when I first started writing my notes to include a little something about biomass. I initially chose to ignore the request simply because I felt it wasn't a particularly interesting subject. As time has gone on I have shied away from the subject more and more as my notes developed an almost whimsical style.

However, a number of recent conversations have encouraged me to change my mind. Variously, I was chastised by a guest recently for our lack of 'real' efforts to help the environment and reduce our energy consumption; we received notification of a 55% increase in our electricity prices and I was involved in a conversation with a number of my peers in the hotel industry about both being 'green' and energy costs.

So, back to the beginning, I mentioned biomass - what on earth is that? In the present day it represents a renewable, sustainable, carbon-lean energy source. So why have you never heard of it and why is it not common place especially if it is so virtuous? Well, I guess it suffers from the modern diseases of spin and marketing, you know the sort of thing; we no longer buy "second hand" cars but "previously owned" cars. Hence, we have "biomass" rather than "wood".

Biomass does have a more technical definition as "biological material derived from living or recently living organisms." However, for Langdale, when we talk about biomass we are referring to wood and specifically wood chip. So our energy source was as familiar to our ancestors as it to us today and it is still one of the most common used by man. The difference is that we, at Langdale, will burn our wood chip through sophisticated boilers enabling us to use the energy it generates in a much more efficient manner. The energy provided will heat the hotel's central facilities and swimming pool.

"Ah! but surely burning trees can't be good for the environment?" I hear you shout. As in ancient times our wood fuel is only gathered locally. This means that we are subject to British forestry rules. Therefore wherever we take trees from they must be replanted; so we are neither reducing the amount of trees nor are we increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

In Cumbria this also has a major impact upon biodiversity and woodland management. Since the late 1960's much of Cumbria's woodlands have fallen into neglect. Much of our woodland was historically managed by coppicing, a system of 'harvesting' woodlands that is now experiencing something of a renaissance in the area.

Our demand for wood will ensure that the management of more woodland is financially viable. This management ensures that our woodlands have trees of varying ages and therefore provides varying habitats for animals and birds; providing a major benefit to Cumbria's biodiversity.

"So if it is so good why isn't everyone doing it?" Well, wood fuel has all the advantages I have mentioned and is also relatively low cost. The reason that it isn't for everyone is simply a matter of space. To store the fuel requires considerably more space than almost every other fuel. At Langdale we have both the space and local fuel sources to overcome this disadvantage.

If you've managed to read to this point, "Thank You". Biomass and wood fuel is a huge subject and my intention was to provide a brief explanation, not to engage in an exploration of the minutiae. If anyone would like any more information on the subject please drop me a line.

Regards,

Nick