Wood pellet boilers 14 September 2022 at 9:27AM in LPG, heating oil, solid & other fuels 16 replies 763 views

jjwarnes

We live in a rural area and rely on wood pellets for heating and hot water. It has been mentioned that LPG and oil fired systems are eligible for government support, but we've not seen any mention of wood pellets. Has anyone seen or heard an announcement regarding support for wood burners?
Like all energy sources, the price of wood pellets has increased significantly. When I checked last week the price had almost doubled.

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

If you're paying less than about 10p/kWh (50p/kg), don't expect any help; your pellets are cheaper than mains gas.

If you're paying more than that you shouldn't expect any help either but you might be lucky if the government remember you exist!

frugal90

Price is just over £400;a ton blown air delivery, more expensive bagged. 

frugal90

Write to your MP using write to them. TI have just done that.

keveen

No help with biomass I read - was also looking. Just "clean" sources like heat pumps. 

TyBad

Where did you read that Keveen? I have a pellet stove for central heating and hot water. The cost of pellets has doubled. A rebate for electricity is not very significant for me. I may have to buy an electric radiator to heat my living room instead of using the central heating this winter! So much for the carbon neutral biomass environmentally friendly option…

sarah539_2

It was mentioned on 5live that pellet boilers would be included as a solid fuel in the discretionary fund mentioned for oil and LPG. But they didn't have more details. Really hope it's true as the price increase on pellets has been huge.

maisie_cat

I haven't found anything but don't expect to, rural communities without mains gas are a small percentage of households and the combination of no gas and detached houses with land (high CT band) means that there hasn't been any help at all.
Our pellet costs have increased from 6.2p/kWh in July 21 to 9.5p when I bought a years worth of pellets in July/August 22. In the same timescale our weighted average electric has increased from 15p to 45p per kWh. 
Although the pellets contribute to our additional £120 a month year on year energy costs they are only £30 of it, I suspect that's why the focus has been on urban households. 

keveen

TyBad said:

Where did you read that Keveen? I have a pellet stove for central heating and hot water. The cost of pellets has doubled. A rebate for electricity is not very significant for me. I may have to buy an electric radiator to heat my living room instead of using the central heating this winter! So much for the carbon neutral biomass environmentally friendly option…

Government website - help for off grid ie rural biomass users only. If I understood right. 

keveen

Still cheap than gas at 14p a kWh it seems! Insane prices. 

Sharon_Whincop

jjwarnes - we too use a residential biomass boiler for our heating and water, so also looking forward to hearing of any plans for the EPG.