Pellets and other 'alternative' forms of energy.
Posted by: DIL on 19 August 2006
Hi,
Does anyone have any experience of swapping to pellets or (more interesting from my point of view) some form of heat pump? This has cropped up a couple of times in conversation with friends/family. What do such systems cost, what tax breaks or grants are available, etc. My understanding is that they are relatively uncommon for domestic use, and that prices are sufficiently hight that it is difficult to justify on a simple payback basis.
Both pellet fired boilers and heat pumps are reltively common over here in Sweden. The last appartment we lived in (One of nine in a converted school) got most of its thermal energy from a heat pump. OK, the instalation involved nine boreholes each 75m + deep, and a 2m x 1m x 0.8m size heat exchanger, but it did keep everyone cosy with outside temperatures of -15C - -20C before additional energy input was required. Since this was a 'commercial' sized instalation (Cost ca £35K, heating 9 volumous appartments, ...) and in Sweden, it is difficult to translate this into a UK domestic situation.
Also, any view or speculation as to where we are heading as far as energy costs, renewable energy sources, taxation, etc.?
/david
Does anyone have any experience of swapping to pellets or (more interesting from my point of view) some form of heat pump? This has cropped up a couple of times in conversation with friends/family. What do such systems cost, what tax breaks or grants are available, etc. My understanding is that they are relatively uncommon for domestic use, and that prices are sufficiently hight that it is difficult to justify on a simple payback basis.
Both pellet fired boilers and heat pumps are reltively common over here in Sweden. The last appartment we lived in (One of nine in a converted school) got most of its thermal energy from a heat pump. OK, the instalation involved nine boreholes each 75m + deep, and a 2m x 1m x 0.8m size heat exchanger, but it did keep everyone cosy with outside temperatures of -15C - -20C before additional energy input was required. Since this was a 'commercial' sized instalation (Cost ca £35K, heating 9 volumous appartments, ...) and in Sweden, it is difficult to translate this into a UK domestic situation.
Also, any view or speculation as to where we are heading as far as energy costs, renewable energy sources, taxation, etc.?
/david