Wood Pellet Stoves
Features of Stoves
There are a number of advantages to using Wood Pellet Stoves: they are efficient (up to 95%, depending on the model and heat output required) produce very little waste, and use a fuel which is inexpensive compared to oil and gas, while producing a similar heat output. Moreover, some models are equipped with a hot water heat exchanger, which can be easily integrated with your existing hot water and heating systems to provide additional heat energy for your home.
Wood Pellet Stove technology has become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. You simply select the desired temperature and the stove will start and stop automatically. Certain Wood Pellet Stove models allow the homeowner to make a call from a landline or mobile number to a tele-control system built into the stove, so that you arrive home into a warm, comfortable environment. Apart from benefitting from cutting-edge design, one of the most attractive things about Wood Pellet Stoves is that they have a large window in front, allowing you to see the flames, and they create a cosy, warm atmosphere in your home.
Wood Pellet Stoves can be installed in most homes (houses or apartments) and most models (but not all) require a chimney flue. Wood Pellet Stoves are equipped with a small Pellet storage hopper which needs to be replenished on a regular basis. The lower the desired temperature required for the stove, the longer and the more efficiently the pellets will burn.
Wood Pellet Fuel
Wood Pellets are considered a "carbon neutral", source of renewable energy because the carbon dioxide emitted when the wood is burned has been taken out of the atmosphere by the growing plant.
Wood pellets are typically made from dry sawdust which is compressed into approximate lengths of 25mm and either 6mm or 8mm in diameter.
Grants of up to €1,800 available
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is promoting the use of wood pellet stoves in the residential market via a range of grants available through the Greener Homes Scheme. This has contributed to a massive increase in demand in this sector in recent years, and it is expected that this trend will continue over the coming years.
Wood Pellet Supply
Wood pellets can be purchased in bulk (minimum 3 tonnes) or bagged (e.g. 20-50kg bags) form. For a new build home, a minimum hopper size of 3 tonnes would be recommended.
From a cost perspective, based on heating oil prices during the latter half of 2007, wood pellet heating costs 35-40% less than the price of oil heating, particularly if the pellets are bought in bulk.
2 tonnes of wood pellets will cost around €440 while 1,000 litres of heating oil costs in the region of €680. Needless to say, this represents significant cost savings on annual home energy bills.
Enerfina's Wood Pellet Scheme
Enerfina have agreed preferential terms for our pellet fuel customers. Click here to learn more.


