Pellets

Once the Ecoflex boiler arrived in May it was plumbed in and the shiny stainless steel flue was installed. Other than that it's sat at the back of the garage partially hidden behind piles of insulation, spare timber and random bits of unused scaffolding.

With the plastering progressing it's getting to the time of making sure we have a fuel supply setup so that we can get the boiler commissioned as soon as the radiators and other 2nd fix plumbing is complete. So I've been trying to find the 'best' suppliers.

The South West is reportedly one of the best parts of the UK to source wood pellets, with the industry taking off particularly well in Wales. I know from projects I've been involved in at work that the Welsh Assembly have made a big commitment to renewable energy, as we've designed several biomass boiler heating systems for Welsh schools. So I've not expected the sourcing to be a problem.

The key decisions that need to be balanced are ; where are the pellets sourced as we don't want large 'pellet miles', how are they delivered (not in plastic bags please!), and how much do they cost.

Thankfully we seem to have found one good supplier who ticks all these boxes. Treenergy, based in Monmouth so not too far away, can supply in either paper bags or large bulk bags that they will take reuse, and they can supply at the best price we can find. On top of this their ethical stance, and commitment to further renewables such as a CHP plant for Monmouth, is just what we want from a supplier. Sounds like it's time to get some pellets ordered.