Before Becoming a Biomass Fuel Supplier
You can only register on the biomass suppliers list if you supply wood fuel. Thus, you are going to need:
- Details on the type of fuel that your business supplies.
- The registration number and the names of the directors in your company (if you are running a company).
You may need to supply other information as well. It will depend on what type of business you operate.
Selling Biomass Fuel to Consumers as a Trader
You will need the licence numbers from your biomass fuel supplier list. As a rule, you will also need to know:
- The distance to the all the depots of your suppliers from your depot.
- How much fuel you get from each of your suppliers as an annual basis.
Note: You will need to get a carbon emissions calculation from each of your suppliers if you do not have these details.
Selling Biomass Fuel to Traders or Consumers as a Producer
As a producer, you will have to make a greenhouse gas calculation. You will also need to show that you meet the land criteria rules. In general, the calculation for greenhouse gas will depend on the size of company.
- Calculate greenhouse gas using the calculator in the application form if your company has less than 50 staff and a turnover under £10 million.
- Calculate greenhouse gas using the UK Solid and Gaseous Biomass Carbon Calculator if your company has more than 50 staff and a turnover over £10 million.
Note: To you will need some information on the ‘lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions‘ of your fuel to make the calculation. This may include details on the type of dryer you use to dry the fuel.
Making Biomass Fuel for Your Own Usage
You may be a ‘self-supplier making biomass fuel for your own use. If so, you must either be a participant in the Renewable Heat Incentive or be planning to make an application. You must have a boiler that generates less than one megawatt (1MW). You will also need to provide:
- Any relevant information that shows where you get your fuel from.
- Some evidence that you can ‘self-supply’ fuel for your own use (e.g. have a woodland management plan).
Registration on the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL)
When you register on the Biomass Suppliers List you get added to a list of woodfuel. This type of wood fuel meets the eligibility requirements for the RHI scheme and Ofgem.
Note: BSL authorisation is not a quality scheme. Thus, it does not guarantee the standard of the fuel that gets supplied through the scheme.
How to Find a Sustainable Wood Fuel Supplier
The online search tool helps you find a registered supplier of biomass wood fuel that meets the Renewable Heat Incentive requirements. Fuel suppliers registered on the list meet the requirements for both RHI schemes:
The sustainable wood fuel supplier service is for consumers who:
- Use a biomass boiler or are planning to get one.
- Burn wood fuel.
- Joined the domestic or the non-domestic RHI scheme or planning to join one of them.
You will need to add some information to find a local BSL fuel supplier online. The search facility allows the use of a postcode, a company name, or a BSL authorisation number.