A wood pellet boiler is an excellent use of a renewable energy source. Wood is a form of biomass and is a very efficient fuel. Take a look at our wood pellets page for details on the fuel itself which can be used in a wood pellet boiler or wood pellet stove.
A wood pellet boiler is a fully automatic appliance akin to a gas boiler. Not only is it a very efficient system for your heating and hot water requirements, but it also produces very low emissions, thus having less of a negative impact on the environment than boilers which use fossil fuels. A wood pellet boiler will need cleaning about once a month but is otherwise low maintenance. They are well suited to variable demand and can also be operated on a timer.
There are a few things to consider if you are thinking about a wood pellet boiler. A flue will be required which may require planning permission. Check with your local authority to see if this applies in your case. The system will also have to conform to building regulations and, if you live in a smokeless zone, only exempt appliances will be permitted.
Grants are available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme towards the cost of a wood pellet boiler. You can expect the total cost of a typical 20KW boiler including a flue to be between £5500 and £12000 and you could receive a grant of up to £1500 or a maximum limit of 30% of the total cost.
More information on stoves is available at our Wood Pellet Stove webpage.
