Is a biomass boiler still worth while

[JGL]

Have a project coming up to heat 8 holiday lets ( 1 barn conversion and 7 new build, so good insulation) with communal barn, and 4 bedroom farmhouse ( listed with solid walls).
When we started on this 2 years ago the plan was to heat with a woodchip boiler feeding a district heating system. However with the proposed cuts in RHI tariffs from April I am wondering if this is still viable or do I just go with oil.

 

[Nearly]

Watching.
Installer quoted £80k plus £15k per year to heat 3 cottages and farmhouse. His calcs showed profit, but lots for him too.

Decided to insulate to max levels.
He claimed they could install one before April then extend it once accepted.

Decided not to invest in govt funded payments any more than we already are.

 

[Still Farming]

I suppose its ok if you got plenty of time to feed it and look after and you got your own wood or fuel ?

 

[Nearly]

I suppose its ok if you got plenty of time to feed it and look after and you got your own wood or fuel ?

Brother in law calls it his 'best cow'. Takes a while to feed but out performs all the others in ££££

 

[555]

Biomass is still a worthy investment when you consider the cost of fossil fuels that you would need to heat the properties . It's one of the reasons for the drop on the small and medium sized biomass. The tariff has increased on the large biomass by almost a 1p per kW. As we know tariffs will not increase so the time to install is now. Highly unlikely that you can get anything in now before April. Do the figures including the savings on oil or gas. Will take longer to pay back, but it will pay back. Oil prices are shifting, supply and currency lead. It still stacks up with the 1mw systems going into existing heat demand set ups. It's all about the savings on fossil fuels now. Not heating something that has never been heated previously .

 

[555]

Looking at fuel costs and RHI income
From April it will be 2.91p per kW
Cost of chip £65/T @ 3500kw / T = 1.9p

So 1p per kW to pay back

Include the alternative cost of say oil

50p per lt @ 10kw per lt = 5p

So over all net gain of 6p

So a 200kw system at T1 max heat production gives a net gain of

200kw X 3066 X £0.06 = £36,000

It works out. If you need to heat!!!

 

[chippingNewbie]

Looking at fuel costs and RHI income
From April it will be 2.91p per kW
Cost of chip £65/T @ 3500kw / T = 1.9p

So 1p per kW to pay back

Include the alternative cost of say oil

50p per lt @ 10kw per lt = 5p

So over all net gain of 6p

So a 200kw system at T1 max heat production gives a net gain of

200kw X 3066 X £0.06 = £36,000

It works out. If you need to heat!!!

Wow where are you getting wood chip at £65/T is that un dried?

 

[Happiness]

Wood biomass is alot of work, Im sure you are aware of that. Also its always good not to have to rely on a supplier.I would also advise to have a backup heating system, especially with the let's.

Something should be happening in April which will slow down tariff degression, As I understand it may be going up?

 

[555]

The £65 a tonne is a good average we use. Good quality recycled prices north west UK.

 

[Happiness]

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/...ble+Heat+Incentive+tariffs+from+1+April+2017/

Found the link. Although tier 1 is going down, Tier 2 is going up, and the threshold is increasing from 15% to 35%. Might be worth doing the maths to see if you would be better off waiting.

 

[PhilSL]

Have you thought about gas CHP? Heat and power and if installed under CHPQA you may qualify for Enhanced Capital Allowance on the install which drastically reduce the ROI.

 

[555]

Only the tariff for large Biomass will increase as well as the threshold level for the Tiering . All designed to Benifit large heat demand businesses. Demand is coming from agribusiness and horticulture needing 2mw plus systems. Very attractive figures combined with fuel saving. Using your own straw makes the returns extremely attractive , IF you have a suitable heat demand .

 

[welshfarming]

strongly suggest not using biomass for holiday lets as it will mean you needing to burn wood during the summer which is the time for gathering the wood and seasoning it instead.. too high maintenance in terms of having to keep the boiler fed with good wood daily, and with the demand from 7 holiday lets will be never ending. I have a t pipe buried ready for pumping biomass water to the hliday let i have and am glad I never went for it. Instead im using electric under floor heating and two electric radiators. Electric shower, and small electric bioler for hot tap in kitchen and bathroom. it means I know the holiday let can work independently without having to rely on the biomass..

 

[d williams]

The £65 a tonne is a good average we use. Good quality recycled prices north west UK.

That would be green chip at that money not under 22%

 

[d williams]

The £65 a tonne is a good average we use. Good quality recycled prices north west UK.

Sorry just read again and see recycled wood then that would be about the mark

 

[Elj]

How about a straw fired boiler?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Straw gets the vote from me, running two here, costs me under 1/2 pence / kw - pne of the best incomes the farm has!

You may be better of waiting until after April to get a bigger deal.

There is one near Petersfield, same concept. Pm me for info, may be worth having a look at it to give you something to think about.

 

[quattro]

strongly suggest not using biomass for holiday lets as it will mean you needing to burn wood during the summer which is the time for gathering the wood and seasoning it instead.. too high maintenance in terms of having to keep the boiler fed with good wood daily, and with the demand from 7 holiday lets will be never ending. I have a t pipe buried ready for pumping biomass water to the hliday let i have and am glad I never went for it. Instead im using electric under floor heating and two electric radiators. Electric shower, and small electric bioler for hot tap in kitchen and bathroom. it means I know the holiday let can work independently without having to rely on the biomass..

If he's using woodchip there isn't a lot of work involved to feed it especially in summer also if he's buying timber in advance and getting it chipped himself it would maybe be£35/£40 ton depending on area

 

[D14]

If he's using woodchip there isn't a lot of work involved to feed it especially in summer also if he's buying timber in advance and getting it chipped himself it would maybe be£35/£40 ton depending on area

Do you have any contacts for timber suppliers?

 

[quattro]

Do you have any contacts for timber suppliers?

What area are you in ?