The main emissions from a wood fired plant burning clean wood from forests or coppice will consist largely of water vapour and carbon dioxide (plus nitrogen and oxygen from the combustion air). The emissions will also contain traces of carbon monoxide, particulates and volatile organic compounds. However, these emissions are not exclusively produced by burning wood. They are also produced when fossil fuels like gas and oil are burned to produce energy. However, this is not a reason to be complacent. Instead it highlights the needs to consider seriously the appliance that the wood is burned in and the quality of the wood fuel that is used
