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Annpan wrote:>>>
We have a multi fuel burner (that will eventually run CH and HW) we can burn all sorts in it, I guess we could also burn pellets in it, obviously you still need to feed it but I prefer the multi-function-ality of it (if that isn't a word, it should be...lol)

I've just been looking at some multi fuel stoves today. Quite the same in general design but i plan to scavenge for waste wood rather than buy logs but after the cost of the purchase and instilation is done it's free heat. Besides the cave men did alright on wood.....

Central heating fired on wood pellets is pretty common over here (Sweden). I'd say most houses use that method. And I'd guess if they are good enough for a Swedish winter, they are probably great for a UK one.

Plus points: they are not noisy or dirty to use or anything like that. You can load a hopper with them and they trickle away for days on end. No fuss or bother. Good heat too - so long as your radiators are not all gunged up... (ahem!)

Minus points: in countries which do NOT have trillions of trees (as we do over here) I guess the main problem is probably their availability (and so price)? Wood CH is cheaper even here. And pellets are produced by industry and so their production requires a lot of electric. (I should imagine). If you produce them yourself, they can be poor.

We looked at pellet burners 2 or 3 years ago but decided not to go ahead because at that time we could only find two manufacturers of pellets, which left us with a feeling of vulnerability. Not only fuel miles but from the monopoly (biopoly?) point of view. Are there more now? ww.

I don't think pellet burners are sustainable.

Think of all the energy used in creating those pellets. I am not that sure that the energy you get out of a pellet is greater than the energy put into making it.

If you want a controllable burner then consider a wood chip stove. If you want something cheaper then of course a log burner is better still.