At Ranheat, we supply commercial biomass boiler systems that can provide sustainable and eco-friendly heating solutions for all your business needs. Our biomass boilers harness the power of industrial wood waste, allowing you to meet your required levels of sustainability while optimising your energy efficiency.
Take the next step forward on your journey towards net zero by switching to a highly versatile renewable energy and a sustainable Ranheat biomass heating system.
Commercial biomass boilers are designed to heat commercial and public buildings. With specific and unique qualities that differ from industrial biomass systems, they are ideal for commercial and public use.
The majority of users buy fuel rather than generating it onsite and this results in high commercial biomass boiler costs. The logistics of the biomass supply chain dictates the carbon neutrality and the primary energy factor of the fuel. Even for users of commercial biomass heating systems, having a biomass combustion chamber that can burn industrial wood waste can help them create shorter, greener and more carbon-neutral supply chains. Furthermore, it is cheaper too.
Fuel availability for commercial boilers in the UK varies from area to area. Energy sources that might be in high supply in the highlands of Scotland might not be available along the North of England’s M62 corridor. Ranheat’s commercial customers can enjoy the flexibility of seamlessly switching between various fuel types and suppliers, which will allow them to choose the most cost-effective option with the smallest carbon footprint.
Yes, but it depends on your goals and constraints.
If you run a sports centre or a school in the countryside off the gas grid with a 1.5MW peak load, or a listed building and you currently use oil as your primary heat source, you have very few long-term options. Oil is an expensive carbon-intensive fuel that will be phased out. Moreover, if you use large commercial boilers, it is not practical to switch the heating system to operate with lower flow temperatures provided by heat pumps.
A commercial biomass boiler is your best option. It will deliver a carbon-neutral system that will reduce your carbon emissions and save you money.
If you run a small shop with a 50kW gas boiler and have limited space, making a commercial biomass system work might be quite challenging. The Ranheat MSU150 and MSU75 are our smallest commercial biomass boilers, and the mechanisms and requirements are too expensive to scale down any further. If the heating system is only 50kW, changing the internal heating appliances is more manageable, so your current heating system might be more suited to a heat pump.
Furthermore, commercial buildings typically experience higher occupancy during the day when temperature differentials are smaller, which can limit the efficiency of the heat pump. The cost of fuel delivery for smaller scales also tends to be higher as bulk deliveries of around 40 tons are more cost-effective than smaller, frequent deliveries.
Commercial biomass boilers have a more significant return on investment over specific scales. For customers with fuel onsite, this size is 75kW to 150kW. For customers who bring in fuel, it is 300kW. However, choosing biomass technology over oil to reduce your carbon footprint is not limited to these scales alone. As is often the case with engineering solutions, the optimal choice and the overall commercial biomass boiler costs depend on a variety of factors.
If you would like more information and some expert advice tailored to your specific requirements, please feel free to contact one of our team.
There are three main types of commercial biomass boilers.
Although pellet boilers are the cheapest, they require a heavily audited and centrally produced processed fuel to work. These secondary processes increase fuel costs and CO2 emissions.
Pellet boilers can have cheaper cyclone flue gas cleaning systems and generally lower capital costs. However, the supply chain around pellets currently has many diesel fuel miles, and the price generally tracks the same as fossil fuels. This means that although pellet boilers have a lower initial capital cost, they are more expensive to run and tend to be less carbon efficient.
Wood chip boilers and fire chambers can handle more fuel variation than pellet boilers. They also generally have a higher initial cost. In order to burn cleanly and efficiently, fire chambers require core wood of even size and without any dust or fine particles. Any variation to poorer-quality fuel with a fire chamber not designed for it will potentially cause emissions to go above the statutory limits.
Wood chip boilers are less expensive than commercial boilers that use biomass pellets. However, they are significantly more expensive than industrial wood waste boilers. Wood chips may also give rise to issues relating to fuel miles and could require fossil fuels to reduce the moisture content of the wood.
Industrial wood waste commercial biomass boilers use standard industrial wood waste, including soft and hard wood dust and chips in various sizes and particles. All wood and wood-based products, such as MDF, chipboard, OSB and solid-grade laminate, can be used except those with heavy metal and halogenated organic compounds. Considered to be the cheapest biomass option, industrial wood waste is often generated in a low-moisture content form close to population centres.
Although industrial wood waste fire chambers may entail higher initial costs, the long-term benefits easily make up for it. The ability to utilise wood waste generated onsite and the lower cost associated with purchasing the required fuel will help offset the initial outlay.
When it comes to commercial biomass boilers in the UK, emission controls vary depending on the fuel used. Controlling emissions relies on effectively managing the stoichiometry of the combustion process within the fire chamber. You must ensure that the entire system is designed to accommodate your chosen fuel type to guarantee optimal performance and adherence to emissions standards.
Although commercial boilers in the UK pose potential risks associated with biomass, wood and dust, at Ranheat we possess the requisite expertise and knowledge to prioritise machine safety in this context.
Similar to our industrial biomass boilers, our commercial biomass boiler systems incorporate automatic, mechanically operated sprinkler systems triggered by temperature. This critical feature ensures that in the event of a power outage and subsequent fire burn-back within the conveying system, the sprinkler is activated before the fire reaches the fuel silo. By promptly extinguishing the fire, our Ranheat boiler systems effectively safeguard against potential hazards.
Moreover, we also specialise in manufacturing fire chambers and conveying systems that incorporate additional safety measures alongside the sprinkler system. These measures can include air-sealed conveying systems and compartmentalisation techniques, which effectively slow down the burn-back progression of the fire.
To further enhance safety, we have a range of options to tailor our Ranheat systems to your specific circumstances and requirements. These options include safety switches, light gates and safety programmable logic controllers (PLCs). By incorporating these safety measures, we can offer comprehensive protection for the installation of commercial biomass boilers.
Ranheat has a variety of installation options and features to automate regular tasks. We also offer complete maintenance programmes for customers without onsite maintenance teams. Our remote access and IOT features enable us to install and support your system remotely without customer input.
As a manufacturer, we have in-depth knowledge of mechanical and electronic control systems, which is why we are able to provide unrivalled support.
At Ranheat, we take great pride in offering end-to-end solutions for all your heating needs, from design and manufacturing to installation and ongoing servicing. We will work closely with you to ensure that your biomass boiler system is perfectly tailored to accommodate the fuel sources available onsite and within the local supply chain while seamlessly fitting in your available space.
If you would like to discuss your options, please get in touch via the contact details listed on this page.
It’s time to make the change…
No two industrial biomass requirements are identical. We take the time to understand your energy requirements from the ground up. Our skilled and experienced team customise and specify exactly the right biomass solution for each of our customers, to generate the most efficient cost savings and sustainable heating solution for your business.
