Thanks to new pollution regulations, wood pellet-fired boilers are becoming perhaps the most interesting alternative to traditional heating systems using coal and wood.
Pellet boilers
In Poland, wood pellet-fired boilers have been relatively slow to become widespread. To some extent, this is also due to the fact of the government's entrenched and long-supported promotion of coal as an energy source. Coal is still cheap and readily available, and there is also a relatively abundant supply of relatively inexpensive firewood due to the large forest cover.
The very slow shift away from environmentally harmful and smog-promoting heating sources stands in stark contrast to other European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and even Italy, where the share of cleaner heating sources is growing at a much faster rate.
Today, alternative, modern and environmentally friendly heating technologies are growing fastest in urban centers, and this development is being driven largely by increased emission restrictions limiting the use of conventional coal- and wood-burning stoves introduced by local governments, growing public awareness of environmental issues and the declining cost of alternative energy sources.
Regulations introduced by the European Union impose much higher energy efficiency and particulate emission standards for new equipment. The problem is that coal- and wood-fired boilers used in millions of Polish homes are not covered by these regulations. They apply only to appliances manufactured after 2020.
Most Polish manufacturers of central heating boilers, out of necessity to adapt to the new norms, which took effect in Poland earlier than in some other EU countries, already offer only boilers that meet European standards for Class V equipment. As a result, pellet boilers are slowly becoming a more interesting option for consumers.
What are wood pellet boilers?
Pellet-fired boilers use compressed and granulated wood waste or biomass material as fuel.
The pelleted fuel is loaded into a hopper and automatically fed into the combustion chamber. The feeding rate depends on the heat output requirements.
The heat is then convectively or with fan assistance distributed throughout the system.
What are the advantages of wood pellet boilers?
A modern boiler fired by high-quality pellets emits very little pollution into the environment. Pellets emit far fewer particles into the atmosphere than conventional boilers.
A modern wood pellet boiler is very efficient. Modern systems provide up to about 90% heat conversion, compared to 60% - 80% in traditional coal or wood boilers. Pellet boilers also provide a much higher level of temperature control than conventional stoves.
Wood pellet boilers are cost-effective. The latest figures show that heating costs with a pellet boiler are almost three times lower than with electricity, about 20 percent lower than with natural gas, and about 30 percent lower than with fuel oil. Traditional "dugongs" fueled by coal or firewood are theoretically 20 percent cheaper to operate, but in practice the energy efficiency of pellet boilers offsets the difference in fuel price.
Compared to traditional wood- or coal-fired stoves, pellet boilers need to be fueled significantly less often. The ash hopper also needs to be emptied much less often, as burning pellets produces much less ash than other solid fuels. Burning in pellet boilers is also much cleaner than in coal or wood stoves.
What boiler to choose
Care should be taken to choose the right power output for your needs. Boilers can range from 3kW to 20kW or more, and larger models have the capacity to heat more than 200m3 of space.
The amount of investment can also be determined by the expected use. As a rule, a pellet boiler makes more sense for regular, more intensive use. As with the installation of any new heating system, when installing a pellet boiler you also need to consider the energy efficiency and insulation level of the building, which may need to be upgraded.
Are subsidies available?
When installing a modern pellet boiler, you can count on a subsidy under the government's Clean Air program, in addition to subsidies offered by local governments. In order to qualify the installation for reimbursement, the boiler must meet minimum specifications for efficiency and harmful emissions. Such wood pellet-fired boilers are offered by Stalmark, among others.