Biomass vs Oil - Oil wins

nxf

Is a self filled Biomass boiler more efficient than an Oil boiler?

We have a medium sized woodland that could easily support a Biomass boiler we are about to purchase. We are interested in getting help with the cost through the green deal scheme.

Apparently an oil boiler (85.3% SAP rating) is more efficient than a biomass boiler fed with wood supplied by our woodland, according to the EPC report we have just had done....

Does this sound right?

Cardew

nxf wrote: »

Is a self filled Biomass boiler more efficient than an Oil boiler?

We have a medium sized woodland that could easily support a Biomass boiler we are about to purchase. We are interested in getting help with the cost through the green deal scheme.

Apparently an oil boiler (85.3% SAP rating) is more efficient than a biomass boiler fed with wood supplied by our woodland, according to the EPC report we have just had done....

Does this sound right?

Like all boilers you can take the efficiency rating with a 'pinch of salt'. Rather like my car will do xx mpg at a steady 56mph.

matelodave

If you can get wood for free or very cheaply then it's academic how efficient it is as oil will cost more to run.
Another benefit for biomass is that you might be able to get Renewable Heat Incentive payments which you won't get for oil.

Smiley_Dan

It depends on the boiler, the moisture content of the wood, the burn temperature, the efficiency of the thermal store being heated and no doubt yet more variables.

I didn't think EPCs knew about individual boiler efficiencies but I may be wrong.

nxf

Thanks for replies.....I am trying to get RHI payments, but as the EPC says the oil boiler I have now is efficient I can't get any help towards a biomass boiler.

I am sure that one of the purposes of the green deal was to try to avoid the dependency on oil?

Smiley_Dan

I think you can still get RHI payments, just that you have to pay the initial capital outlay and then you make it back over the next seven years. There used to be something called the RHPP to help with installation but that has now been withdrawn.

There are also other requirements to qualify for RHI, e.g. your insulation has to be up to scratch.

nxf

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

I think you can still get RHI payments, just that you have to pay the initial capital outlay and then you make it back over the next seven years. There used to be something called the RHPP to help with installation but that has now been withdrawn.

There are also other requirements to qualify for RHI, e.g. your insulation has to be up to scratch.

I have approached three Green Deal Providers and they say as there is no mention of biomass on the EPC then they can't do RHI

This makes me think that they would rather help people on inefficient biomass use oil instead

Smiley_Dan

Oh, I see. Yeah, if it's Green Deal financed you have to use the EPC or GDAR. However if you install it yourself and take that capital hit I don't think the eligibility is as strict (although some still exists as described above).

matelodave

If you want Green Deal money then you have to pass the Green Deal criteria which as far as I know assumes that you will only get it if the savings cover the repayments. Green Deal isn't just there to give you a loan to replace an efficient boiler with another one efficient or otherwise. I don't think that free wood is considered a saving.

RHI is different. You can decide to change your boiler and pay for it yourself and providing that the boiler is on the approved list and installed by an MCS installer (you need an MCS certificate as well) you should be eligible for an RHI grant. the payment is either based on the energy generated by the boiler as estimated by the EPC or the energy generated measured by a heat meter. You also need a GDA to prove that the insulation is up to a minimum standard (usually cavity wall and loft insulation to 270mm).
Have a look at the OFGEM website for the rules regarding RHI https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/domestic-renewable-heat-incentive

Robwiz

My understanding is that anyone who installs biomass (or ASHP or GSHP) using an MCS accredited installer can register their installation and claim RHI.

However, Green Deal funding is only available for the measures indicated on the EPC/GDAR.

I wouldn't attach any weight to the SAP estimates of efficiencies of oil vs. biomass. Just some numbers plucked from the air by a committee a few years ago. If your wood is (almost) free then obviously you'll heat your home for less cost than burning oil.

nxf

Thanks again for the replies

I am mostly wanting some assistance with the financing of a biomass boiler installation as the average cost for boiler/accumulator fitted in to our existing system is £14 -17,000.

The suppliers are quoting this inflated figure on the grounds that I can get RHI/Green Deal assistance with paying so therefore they would like a share?

So it seems like the only way to afford this is to get the help the government are boasting about giving,

The opening lines on the RHI site are:

"The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (Domestic RHI) is a government financial incentive to promote the use of renewable heat. Switching to heating systems that use naturally replenished energy can help the UK reduce its carbon emissions".

This ironically is exactly what I am trying to do so I am surprised that I don't qualify for aid.