Why choose wood pellets?

Heating with wood pellets: why choose this method of heating? Report compiled by C. BAYARD and completed Christophe MARTZ.

The reasons for the choice of heating with wood pellets

1 - Financial savings

Compared to fossil fuels that are (and will be) more expensive. Approximately € 210 tonne (4500 to 5000kWh) instead of € 300 for an energy equivalent in oil (€ 0,60 / L which contains 10kWh).

Fuel oil is, with these costs, approximately 45% more expensive than pellets.

changing pellet prices relative to oil and gas

Evolution of the price of pellets compared to fuel oil and gas on an isoenergy scale (Euros for the same quantity of energy, in other words: 250 € / T of pellets corresponds to fuel at 50 cts of €). Click on the image to enlarge.

However, the stability of the price of pellets is not necessarily guaranteed for the future. To try to find out more, here is a discussion on the future and the stability of prices of wood pellets

Read also:  Financial assistance and tax credit for pellets?

2 - Ecological satisfaction.

Wood, when it burns, certainly gives off CO2, but in a quantity equivalent to the CO2 it absorbed during its growth. We can therefore say that the operation is CO2 neutral. This is not quite correct because the pellet manufacturing process requires additional energy, but it is still much better than burning fossil fuels such as fuel oil. If the pellets are dried using fuel oil, around 7,5% gray energy is required and often the pellets are dried using wood. Read more.

3 - Social satisfaction

Pellet wood sectors are generally local sectors (while oil production is rare in France) and there are no (at least currently) wars for wood! We cannot say that it is the same for oil or gas ...

4 - Satisfaction with having an innovative and original system.

Read also:  Central heating with wood, wood pellets what does it know?

That is to say, contribute to innovation and technological advances, but that is a bit of a personal fad.

5 - Ease of use (compared to logs).

It must be remembered because too many people think it's like a log wood boiler has to be loaded all the time. A pellet boiler is fully automatic.

There is no difference in method of use compared to your old boiler oil or gas.

Read more: advantages and disadvantages of pellets compared to wood

Read also:  Wood Energy: choose pellets, help, criteria and questions

1 comment on “Why choose wood pellets?”

  1. Hello,

    Since writing this article we can say that it has become obsolete. Given the explosion in the price of products from the wood sector, we can say and it was predictable, we are once again attracting the gogo with a flattering offer with great marketing ideas to boot. And then we pluck the pigeon. Speculation and greed being the prerogative of human beings, there will never be a miracle solution. More time, energy and bla-bla spent for nothing. Really tired of going in circles.

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