Ready to Burn certification provides assurance that wood fuel sold in volumes of under 2m³ has a moisture content of 20% or less. However, Ready to Burn certification is not a demonstration of fuel quality.
What is the Biomass Suppliers List?
The BSL is a list of wood fuel that has proven it meets the eligibility requirements for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. The BSL allows RHI participants to easily demonstrate to Ofgem the fuel used in their biomass boilers meets the sustainability criteria required to claim RHI payments. The BSL has been administered by Woodsure since 1 July 2021, with the team that administer BSL operating independently of the team that handles Woodsure and Ready to Burn certifications.
When and how is fuel quality added to the BSL?
The BSL allows you to make an application for a fuel, where the relevant requirements are considered, such as:
- Calculation of emissions
- Land criteria documentation review
- Fuel quality certification (such as Woodsure fuel quality)
If your fuel meets the relevant requirements, you are provided with a BSL number which is used to help self-reporting with the RHI or can be given to your customers so they can claim their RHI.
Ready to Burn does not qualify for fuel quality
Ready to Burn is a scheme administered by Woodsure on behalf of Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Ready to Burn certification is required for any business that sells wood fuel for domestic use (in England) in volumes of under 2m³, since legislation came into force 1 May 2021.
Ready to Burn certification does not provide a fuel quality grading like the Woodsure scheme; the certification is considered lighter touch, only having minimal requirements to meet the requirements of legislation. Due to this, having Ready to Burn certification for your fuel does not meet the fuel quality requirements for the RHI and can’t be used to support a BSL application.
Do I need to be on the BSL?
Although there are situations where the BSL is required, such as if you wish to sell fuel, the BSL is an optional service. Using the BSL makes certification of a fuel to claim the RHI easier and more accessible.
If you are unsure if you need BSL certification to claim RHI, please contact the BSL Helpdesk at 01684 215253 or email the team at helpdesk@bsladmin.org.