Biomass Boiler Installation in Teesdale
Biomass boilers offer a sustainable heating solution for properties across rural Teesdale and County Durham. Using wood pellets, chips, or logs as fuel, these systems provide reliable heating for homes and businesses where heat pumps aren’t suitable. As one of the first companies in Teesdale to specialise in biomass technology, we have over a decade of experience designing and installing high-efficiency systems that work.
Pioneers in Teesdale Biomass Technology
We were one of the first companies in Teesdale to specialise in biomass heating, starting our renewable journey with HETAS training back in 2010. Over a decade later, we’re still here, still installing, and still supporting our customers – unlike many companies from that era who’ve disappeared.
High-End Systems with Long-Term Support
We only work with premium brands like Froling, Windhager, and Etta because we know we can support them for decades. Many cheaper biomass boilers are now orphaned by manufacturers who no longer exist. We’d rather be honest about what we can support than leave you with a system we can’t maintain.
Genuine Biomass Expertise and Infrastructure
We don’t just install biomass boilers – we understand the entire fuel chain. With our own wood chip drying facilities and deep knowledge of fuel quality requirements, we can advise on sourcing, storage, and using biomass fuel properly. Our founders heat their own homes with biomass, so we know firsthand what works and what doesn’t.
How Biomass Boilers Work
A biomass boiler operates much like a traditional gas or oil boiler, but instead of fossil fuels, it burns sustainable wood-based materials – typically wood pellets, wood chips, or logs. The combustion process heats water, which then circulates through your central heating system and provides hot water for taps and showers via a hot water cylinder.
Modern biomass boilers are remarkably efficient and sophisticated. Many feature automatic fuel feeding systems using hoppers connected to bulk storage, meaning you’re not constantly loading fuel manually. The boiler regulates itself based on your heating demands, adjusting the burn rate to maintain consistent temperatures throughout your property.
These systems require a plant room for the boiler itself and adequate space for fuel storage. Smaller domestic installations might use bagged pellets stored in a dedicated area, whilst larger systems often have purpose-built fuel stores with auger systems that automatically deliver fuel to the boiler as needed.
We specialise in high-end biomass systems from manufacturers including Froling, Windhager, and Etta. These premium brands offer exceptional efficiency, reliability, and longevity – crucial factors when you’re making a significant investment in your heating system.
When Biomass Makes Sense for Your Property
Biomass boilers are seeing a resurgence, and for good reason. We’ve installed more biomass systems in recent months than we have in the past three years combined. This renewed interest comes from property owners who’ve discovered that biomass offers practical solutions where other renewable technologies fall short.
Heat pumps have received significant attention and government backing, but they’re not suitable for every property. Older buildings with solid stone walls, listed properties, or homes with high heat loss often struggle with heat pump efficiency. This is where biomass excels – it can deliver the high temperatures needed to heat poorly insulated buildings effectively.
Large domestic properties, farmhouses, commercial premises, and multiple buildings heated from a central plant room are ideal candidates for biomass. If your property has space for fuel storage and a plant room, and you need substantial heating capacity, biomass could be the perfect solution.
We’re completely honest about suitability. When customers enquire about heat pumps and our heat loss calculations show the property isn’t appropriate, biomass is often our next recommendation. It’s about finding what genuinely works for your situation, not pushing a particular technology because it’s fashionable.
The Installation Process
Our straightforward installation process is designed to make your transition to solar energy as smooth as possible:
System Sizes and Costs
Biomass boilers are available in a wide range of outputs, from compact 7.5kW systems for small domestic properties up to 250kW+ installations for large commercial buildings or multiple property heating. The right size depends on your property’s heat loss calculation and hot water demands.
For context, a typical 50kW biomass system costs approximately £35,000 installed. This includes the boiler, fuel storage solution, plant room modifications, and all associated pipework and controls. Smaller systems cost less, whilst larger commercial installations naturally increase in price.
The government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers a £5,000 grant towards biomass boiler installation costs, helping to offset the initial investment. This grant is available for both domestic and qualifying commercial properties, though certain criteria must be met.
Whilst the upfront cost is substantial, biomass fuel is typically cheaper than oil or electricity, and the systems are built to last for decades with proper maintenance. Many of our customers find their running costs are competitive with or lower than their previous heating bills, especially in larger properties where the fuel savings really add up.
Testimonials
In my 90th year and almost housebound I find that I have to rely more heavily on family, friends and a wide variety of firms and organisations. I have used Teesdale Renewables for many years for plumbing, heating and lighting issues. The office staff and workforce have been unfailingly efficient, helpfuland friendly over that time.Very recently I had a new central heating boiler installed and replacement lights fitted in the porch and under kitchen cupboards. The boiler change was completed within the day causing minimum disruption to the normal function of the house in respect of water and gas supplies and is proving to be very efficient and effective. The lights were installed in a few hours and are superb.I would never think of going anywhere else for the services provided by Teesdale Renewables so effectively and at reasonable cost.
Thank you for the excellent service from staff member of the electrician team- he was very capable, experienced and well mannered. I will definitely be using your services again.
Thanks for the invoice for the installation of our wood burning stove. We are delighted with the stove and with the work undertaken.
Maintenance, Servicing, and RHI
Biomass boilers require annual servicing, similar to traditional boilers. This isn’t just good practice – if your system was installed under the old Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, annual servicing is mandatory to maintain your payments. Missing a service means you’d lose your RHI tariff, which for many customers represents significant income over the 20-year payment period.
We service and maintain biomass boilers, but we’re selective about which brands we work with. We focus exclusively on Froling, Windhager, and Etta systems – the high-end manufacturers where we know we can source parts and provide reliable long-term support. Sadly, many biomass brands from the early days of renewable energy installation no longer exist, leaving customers with boilers we can’t service due to parts unavailability.
During servicing, we’ll clean the heat exchanger, inspect and replace consumable parts like firebricks and door seals, check safety systems, and ensure the boiler is operating at peak efficiency. We’ll also verify that you’re burning appropriate fuel – we can tell from the ash and deposits whether wood has been properly dried, and burning damp fuel will damage your investment.
Regular maintenance extends your boiler’s life significantly. These are robust systems designed for decades of service, but only if they’re looked after properly and fed quality fuel.
Biomass vs Other Heating Options
When comparing heating systems, it’s important to consider both the installation costs and long-term running costs, as well as each technology’s suitability for your specific property.
Heat pumps are more efficient in terms of energy input versus output, but they struggle with properties that have high heat loss or require high flow temperatures. Biomass doesn’t have these limitations – it can heat any property effectively, regardless of insulation levels or radiator sizing.
Gas and oil boilers are cheaper to install but rely on fossil fuels with volatile pricing. Biomass uses sustainable, often locally sourced fuel. In rural Teesdale, where many properties are off mains gas anyway, the choice is typically between oil and renewable options like biomass or heat pumps.
Solar panels and batteries are excellent technologies, but they don’t provide heating directly (though they can offset the electricity used by heat pumps or immersion heaters). Many of our customers combine technologies – using biomass for heating and hot water whilst generating electricity through solar PV.
We work with all these technologies daily, which means we can provide genuinely impartial advice about which system, or combination of systems, makes the most sense for your property and budget.
Our Installation and Support
Biomass was where our renewable energy journey began back in 2010. Adam, one of our founders, completed his HETAS training with the goal of becoming one of the first biomass specialists in Teesdale. We achieved that aim, and we’re still installing and servicing biomass systems today.
When you contact us about biomass heating, we’ll visit your property to assess its suitability. We’ll need to see your existing heating system, evaluate space for the plant room and fuel storage, and understand your heating requirements. For many rural properties with outbuildings or barns, fuel storage isn’t a problem, but it’s crucial to plan this properly from the start.
We’ll provide a detailed quotation covering the boiler, fuel storage solution, any necessary plant room modifications, and installation costs. We’ll also explain the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant process and help you access the £5,000 funding.
Our installations are carried out by experienced engineers who understand biomass systems inside out. We’ve been doing this since the technology first became popular, and we’ve learned from every installation. You’re not getting someone who’s fitted a handful of boilers – you’re getting a team with over a decade of hands-on biomass experience.
After installation, we provide commissioning, user training, and ongoing servicing. We’re here for the long term, not just for the initial sale.
Biomass Boiler Questions Answered
How much space do I need for a biomass boiler system?
You’ll need a plant room for the boiler itself and separate space for fuel storage. The boiler room requirements depend on the system size but expect something similar to a traditional boiler room plus additional clearance for maintenance access. Fuel storage varies enormously – a small domestic system using bagged pellets might need a few square metres of dry storage, whilst a large automated system could require a purpose-built fuel store or converted outbuilding. We’ll assess your available space during our site visit and design a solution that fits your property.
What fuel should I use and where can I source it?
We recommend using quality wood pellets or chips from reputable suppliers who can guarantee consistent moisture content and quality. Fuel must be properly dried – typically below 20% moisture content for chips and around 8-10% for pellets. Burning damp fuel reduces efficiency dramatically and can damage your boiler. We can recommend local suppliers, and because we have our own wood chip drying facilities, we understand fuel quality inside out. Never compromise on fuel quality to save a few pounds – it’s a false economy that will cost you more in the long run.
Is biomass heating really renewable and environmentally friendly?
Yes, biomass is classified as renewable energy. When trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Burning that wood releases the same carbon back – creating a closed carbon cycle, unlike fossil fuels which release carbon that’s been locked underground for millions of years. Provided the wood comes from sustainably managed forests where new trees are planted to replace those harvested, the system is carbon neutral. Modern biomass boilers are also incredibly clean-burning, with sophisticated combustion controls that minimise emissions compared to old-fashioned wood burning.
Can I get a grant towards a biomass boiler?
Yes, the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a £5,000 grant towards biomass boiler installation. This applies to both domestic and certain commercial properties. The grant is available when replacing fossil fuel heating systems with renewable alternatives. There are eligibility criteria around property Energy Performance Certificates and other factors, which we’ll help you navigate. The grant is claimed directly by us on your behalf, reducing the amount you pay for the installation.
How often does a biomass boiler need servicing and what’s involved?
Biomass boilers need annual servicing to maintain efficiency and safety. During a service, we’ll clean the heat exchanger, inspect and replace worn components like firebricks and door seals, check all safety systems, verify combustion efficiency, and remove ash build-up. If your system was installed under the old RHI scheme, annual servicing is mandatory to keep receiving payments – missing a service means losing your tariff. Regular servicing extends your boiler’s lifespan considerably. These are robust systems designed for decades of use, but only with proper maintenance.
What brands of biomass boiler do you install and service?
We install and service high-end biomass systems from Froling, Windhager, and Etta. These premium manufacturers offer exceptional reliability, efficiency, and most importantly, we know we can source parts for ongoing support. Unfortunately, many biomass brands from the early renewable energy boom no longer exist, leaving customers with unsupportable systems. We’ve made the difficult decision to only work with brands where we can guarantee long-term parts availability and support. If you have a different brand and need servicing, we’re honest that we probably can’t help – but we’d rather be upfront than take your money knowing we can’t provide proper ongoing support.
Request My Consultation Today
Our straightforward installation process is designed to make your transition to solar energy as smooth as possible:
