countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org

dolmen · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Location: N.Ireland

I was wondering if we have many members who have changed over to heating with wood pellets? I think its a great idea, but wonder how long it will be until the price catches up with fossil fuels, I know some people will use it just because it is greener, but for many it has to remain a much cheaper option.

Smile

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Hi Dolmen. We have decided to go for the wood pellet option with our new build. I would love to install a geothermal installation but the sums dont seem to add up. I agree with you about the potential cost of the pellet fuel. Once we all get it what will they charge for the pellets? They may well be quoting good prices just to get us all onboard, and then what???. For this reason I have opted to go for a multi fuel system. The boiler costs a bit more of course but I will be able to burn Pellets, chips, or grain. The grain option appeals the most because it can be sauced from local tillage farmers, and so doing them a bit of good. The boiler that we are looking at can burn grain at 20% moisture. This is quite high for harvested grain and so would be quite easy to get. The wood chip option could be grown as a willow plantation but would need to undergo a period of drying before it can be used. So in my view we can do this and not be at the mercy of the commercial producers.
_________________
Leave not a trace.

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

We were going to replace our kerosene for wood pellet with a grant from SEI but after we did the figures the installation and alteration to existing plumbing seemed high and it would be years before we would see major savings. We got in three woodburners which are great and we fuel them with our own turf and wood from our land.

The man who services the boiler and who is now retiring, told me that a bio keresene is in production but is not available to the public and it will only take a few adjustments to the burner to make your oil boiler accept it.

"They" are probably waiting to sell off the last of the oil supplies before "they" make this fantastic "technical breakthrough" and then we will all be able to get it.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Yes Quarryman. I can see how altering an existing setup can prove more expensive than what we are doing. The size of the boiler and hopper for a start plus enough dry storage space for bulk purchase. Our setup will be in a purpose built boiler house/garage. I am not thinking of a completely automatic system with large hoppers and augers everywhere. I am told that the standard hopper supplied with the boiler <Baxi> will last about twenty days, before I need to top it up which is fine. The grant makes this all possible and if it costs a bit more than a Kero setup then so be it. Its a shame that heat pumps cost so much.
_________________
Leave not a trace.

tringle · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:55 am Post subject:

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

www.sei.ie Sustainable Energy Ireland are the body who are giving out the grants.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Hi Tringle. The grant for heat pumps was the same as a pellet boiler ie 4.2k Euro. I did not hear all the budget but am told that some adjustments has been done. Can anyone shed some light on this please. At the moment the heat pumps go for 8-10k and this does not include the ground work. As is the custom in Ireland. A fistful of Euroes in someones back pocket will get this done Wink

If you have a well this can be used as a heat sauce. I have heard of rivers and lakes being used also and in the case of the lake all that is needed is a boat to take all the pipework out. The heat pumps that I have looked at take a typical ground source water temp at a stable 12 degs. After going through the heat pump this is returned into the system at 10deg. So it dont take much does it?. It would be interesting to know what the water temperature is of your stream this winter. Good luck with it.

Chris.
_________________
Leave not a trace.

dolmen · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Location: N.Ireland

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Interesting idea!!!!. As the trenchies for the collector are approx one metre deep, dependant on ground conditions. They are approx the same depth as a strip footing, and so the foundations of the house would be about 12 deg. In theory anyway. As we put insulation below our floors I would guess that our floors are infact above this figure. I will have to measure this. Wink

_________________
Leave not a trace.

dolmen · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Location: N.Ireland

You're probably correct, I'm just thinking about general outdoor temps over the winter, hardly ever get into double figures, never mind the wind chill factor.

Smile