| Wood Chips |
Wood Pellets |
| Moisture |
Moisture |
| Minimum 22% moisture content (EU Standard) Typically around 35% or more. |
Maximum 8% moisture content (EU Standard) |
| Storage and Fuel Delivery |
Storage and Fuel Delivery |
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Requires 3 times the storage capacity of more frequent deliveries.
Capital costs for storage are generally higher because of higher
volume of chip and in most cases need agitation due to the irregular
size of chip and high moisture content.
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Requires less storage capacity and deliveries.
Storage costs are lower due to the energy density of pellets and rarely requires agitation.
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| Maintenance |
Maintenance |
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Generally require more routine maintenance if quality control on fuel supply is not maintained.
Quality control is harder to ensure for chips than for pellets.
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Less maintenance required with a range of very high quality
fully automated boilers now in the market place.
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| Cost of Chips |
Cost of Pellets |
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Chips are cheaper per tonne but are less energy dense.
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Pellets are more expensive per tonne but are more energy dense.
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| Overall Cost |
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Specific valuations are required with reference to the boiler site, its distance to the source of fuel,
the quality and reliability of the fuel source and capital cost of the fuel system.
|
| Oil |
Wood Pellets |
| Supply |
Supply |
The long term future of oil cannot be guaranteed.
The global oil markets are extremely unstable and as recent events have proven
are subject to serious disruption. A price increase normally occurs
as a result of these disruptions.
By 2010 90% of all the oil in the UK will be imported.
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Customers are offered long term fuel supply contracts ranging between 3 and 10 years, guaranteeing regular fuel deliveries.
In the unlikely event of any disruption of supply direct from Eco Link Resources Suppliers,
customers are guaranteed that wood fuel will be outsourced from our European partners by us to ensure delivery
of high quality fuel at no additional cost.
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| Price |
Price |
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The price of heating oil is constantly changing and has been subject to a 70% rise this year.
Heating oil in the UK is amongst the cheapest currently in Europe, but this is set to change over the next 5 years to bring us
in line with the higher rate of tax currently paid throughout Europe the price of
heating oil is predicted to be in line with Denmark at over 60 pence per litre
|
Customers can choose a Tracker contract at a price that is 10% less than the price of oil or a fixed contract for a specified period. |
| Maintenance |
Maintenance |
|
An oil-fired boiler requires much more maintenance by qualified specialists and in the long term will not be as cost effective.
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Eco Link Resources offers a 3 hour emergency call out.
Equipment upgrades are offered as part of some maintenance contracts.
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| Sustainability |
Sustainability |
Oil is a fossil fuel and does not have a long term future as a source of energy.
Energy efficiency measures will not guarantee consistent annual savings as the price of oil rises.
Many oil companies are looking towards sustainable forms of energy as part of their long term strategy
for energy provision as oil resources deplete.
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Wood pellets are carbon neutral and as such are exempt from the Climate Change Levy.
The long term future of wood fuel is assured.
A saving of 25 to 50% of the total fuel costs will be made year on year if energy
efficiency measures are implemented by utilising wood fuel heating. Wood fuel systems work differently to oil,
the system turns down and not off. Therefore the building is kept at a constant temperature, this reduces the
vast amount of energy required to heat the building back up to its set point.
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| Grants |
Grants |
| No grants are available for oil installations. |
Eco Link is currently able to offer customers £1500 off costs, in some cases up to 25% saving on
the eligible costs of installing a wood pellet boiler and silo as part of the DTI’s commitment to
wood fuel under the Bio-Energy Capital Grants Scheme. This grant offsets the capital costs of wood pellet
boilers and silos making them similar in price to a fossil fuel installation.
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Oil does not offer a sustainable, efficient and economic option for energy supply. Wood fuel is a guaranteed energy source with a proven record.
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