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Description
Biomass fuel is derived from waste wood sources or from specially farmed biomass crops such as willow and other plant species. The fuel is fed into either a stove or a boiler which provides all or part of the dwellings heat load requirements.
Unit cost of installation
Cost depends on the specific system type and size and varies considerably depending on whether the system uses a boiler or room heater/stove, manual or automatic fuel feed, and an integral or separate storage facility. The table below indicates the range.
System type
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Total Cost (£)*
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| Room heater/stove with automated wood pellet feed
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1,500 - 3,000
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| 15 kW boiler system burning logs or pellets
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4,000 - 12,000
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* includes capital outlay, installation and commissioning but excludes cost of distribution system and/or radiators.
Bulk cost of installation
Data not available.
Indicative energy cost and carbon emissions
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£/yr running cost
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kgC/yr
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from
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to
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from
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to
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|
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| All fuel
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490
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845
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525
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675
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| Space and water only
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290
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645
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125
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275
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Maintenance
Regular cleaning of the flue is needed, and ash will need to be removed and disposed of regularly.
Lifetime
Technical suitability
The management of wood-chip and wood-pellet boilers is more complicated than that of gas-fired boilers because of the need to ensure regular deliveries of fuel and to store it on site. The delivery and storage of fuel, the method of transfer to the boiler and the removal/disposal of ash produced have to be considered. Proper storage of the fuel is very important because the efficiency of the system is dependent on the moisture content of the fuel; the higher the moisture content the lower the efficiency will be. The flue for burners must be of the proper type, and planning consent may be needed in some cases. Appliances must be exempt under the clean air act to be allowed to burn wood.
Non-technical constraints
Facilities to store fuel are essential, and since fuel supply is currently limited it could be difficult to source locally. Active management by occupants of fuel deliveries and storage is required. If the recipients of central heating are not familiar with it they may assume that it will be expensive to use and therefore not use it for fear of getting into debt. It is therefore essential that the system is properly commissioned and that the users are given good advice on how to operate it efficiently.
Potential concerns with fuel poor
Paying in advance for large quantities of fuel may present problems.
Ancillary benefits
Improved heating (coupled with insulation and ventilation measures) will reduce incidence of condensation and mould growth, thus decreasing maintenance costs for the building fabric and reducing damage (resulting from mould growth) to occupants possessions. There may also be benefits to occupants health.
Wood produced from managed sources is an environmentally friendly fuel.
Trigger points for work
Work on the heating system.
Technical Guidance Available
» CE47 Domestic heating by solid fuel: boiler systems (2005 edition)
» British Association of Biofuels and Oils: www.biodiesel.co.uk
» Information on wood fuel, system suppliers and local fuel suppliers: www.nef.org.uk/logpile
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