Tag Archive for: wood pellets
Still burning wet wood or household coals in an open fire?
wood pellets winter
In the cold dark winter evenings, we all love to snuggle up on the sofa with a hot drink taking in the heat from an open fire or multifuel stove. What if we told you that burning coal or wet wood in an open fire is very inefficient and has the biggest impact on our national emissions of particulate matter. Would you consider using wood pellets.
When it comes to using open fireplaces to generate heat, they are not very efficient when warming up a household. The heat that is produced from an open fire, can be lost by traveling up the chimney or by the draft pulling the heat from the room.
Are wood-burning stoves coming to an end?
No, but “Polluting Fuels” such as wet wood and many types of household coals that provide heat from burning in stoves are being phased out in many parts of the UK & Ireland to help clean the air.
Why are these being banned?
The UK and Ireland have decided to ban the use of wet wood and many types of household coals based on the little particle pollutants (known as PM2.5 that penetrate the blood and lungs) that are created when burning wet wood and household coals.
What alternatives can we turn to?
wood pellets
When it comes to cleaner fuels, this is referred to as Wood Pellets. Wood Pellets are an excellent alternative as they produce less smoke, pollution, are cheaper, and are more efficient to burn.
How do I burn wood pellets?
Wood pellets need to be used in special appliances to get the most efficient use. The efficiency of pellet stoves can exceed up to 90% compared to the 5-15% efficiency of an open fire.
Where can I purchase or inquire about modern pellet stoves?
Examples of modern pellet stoves can be provided by specialist suppliers across the UK & ROI. Wood pellet stoves are an efficient appliance that produces much less ash & particulate matter allowing you to still enjoy watching the flames and absorbing the heat on a cold dark evening that is produced from Balcas Energy’s locally produced wood pellets.
If you are interested in moving to renewable energy and doing your part to help the environment, please contact us and a member of our customer support team will help with any queries you may have.
Thank You,
Balcas Energy
What is a wood pellet stove?
Wood pellet stoves are an excellent addition in reaching net zero by 2050. Wood Pellet stoves are eco-friendly alternatives as they are not fuelled by fossil fuels.
A Wood Pellet stove is efficient, convenient, and operated by wood pellet fuel. Wood pellet stoves produce little wood smoke and provide an exceptional amount of heat compared to open fires.
As technology changes, recent wood pellet stoves are now trendy home fittings with current styling, huge glass windows, and finished with ironstone covering in striking colors. As the look of pellet stoves has changed, so has the operations. Up-to-date biomass stoves may have the option of remote controlling for electronic ignition and temperature control making them safe, attractive, and easy to use.
How do I use a wood pellet stove?
What are the key advantages of wood pellet stoves?
Cost-effective
Wood pellet stoves are flawless for providing supplementary heat between seasons. Wood pellets stoves avoid you having to restart the central heating at the beginning of winter and can be stopped earlier than expected.
Easy to use
All stove models have a thermostat so they switch off and on automatically. Some models also have advanced functions: programming, remote control, smartphone/internet control, and more making it easy to adjust without getting off your seat.
Excellent performance
The efficiency of quality wood pellet stoves can exceed 90% with only 10% of the energy contained in the pellets being lost in the chimney.
No need for a traditional chimney
Smoke is emitted to the outside by forced ventilation through an 80 to 120 mm tube which can be placed vertically or horizontally. This is a great addition for biomass stoves as they can be installed wherever best fits.
Carbon neutral
Wood Pellets are procured with the sawdust created from the wood processing industry. Pellet stoves are carbon neutral because the carbon released during combustion is equivalent to that absorbed by the tree during its growth. Per annum, Balcas Energy produces over 200,000 tonnes of wood pellets. This has a massive impact on the environment as our customers save almost 300,000 tonnes of CO2 (when compared to burning oil).
What is the difference between wood pellet stoves and wood stoves?
When it comes to wood pellet stoves, these burn environmentally friendly wood pellets, whereas wood stoves burn seasoned firewood. One of the main differences between wood stoves and wood pellet stoves is the type of fuel they require.
Why should you choose Balcas Energy wood pellets?
Many companies import wood pellets and then sell them as renewable fuels which can cause your biomass appliance problems. This makes it very important to know why we at Balcas Energy promote the importance of sustainable manufacturing of our wood pellets. As we produce wood pellets locally with high-quality material from Balcas sawmilling activities, our pellet fuel is 100% Carbon neutral.
Why does this matter?
- Less CO2 – Shorter distances mean our carbon footprint is less than any other imported pellets, which can travel halfway around the globe.
- The highest quality possible of your delivered wood pellet fuel – Buying from a sustainable manufacturer, who also delivers directly to your address, reduces the risk of cross-contamination.
- Environment Friendly – Using green energy to make the wood pellets, by powering all our manufacturing activities within our CHP plant (Combined Heat and Power) and the sawmill plant.
If you are interested in wood pellet stoves and would like to gain additional information, contact us and a member of our team will deal with any queries you may have.
You can order online 24/7 by visiting our Online Shop:
Balcas Energy Team
Winter is coming. Order Wood Pellets Online now!
Despite unseasonably mild temperatures as the UK and Island of Ireland moves into winter, one weather forecast has said we could see snow in a matter of weeks which is why we are urging our customers to order wood pellets now.
In the Autumn months, we have experienced very mild weather which is very unusual. Reports are suggesting that Britain could see the first snow of the winter season as soon as November, 18th.
For many, the warmer Autumn temperatures the UK has seen in recent weeks have been welcomed, with households keeping their heating off which has had a massive impact on savings as we enter the winter months.
As reports suggest, a cold front arriving from the Atlantic will bring rain, strong gusts, and the potential for thunderstorms.
Have you checked our online prices recently? With our guaranteed Christmas delivery cut-off date (4th December 2023 at 5:00 PM) just over 2 weeks away, please make sure you place your order wood pellets online before then to ensure you have enough carbon-neutral pellets this Christmas.
You can order wood pellets online 24/7 by visiting our Online Shop:
Thank You,
Balcas Energy Team
COP28 – What is it?
The UN Climate Change Conference (the official name for climate Conferences of the Parties) has happened every year since 1995 . COP28 is schuduled from 30th November – 12 December 2023. The conference will be held at Expo City, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This two-week
summit is an excellent opportunity for world leaders, politicians, experts, and a whole host of other people to discuss the climate crisis on a global level.
To gain more information about COP28, please click HERE.
How do wood pellets contribute to helping the Environment?
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, LPG, and natural gas is one of the greatest contributors to climate change. At Balcas Energy we have been manufacturing and distributing wood pellets since 2005. In the last 12 months, our customers have saved over 300,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted compared to the burning of imported heating oil. They are leading the way by heating their homes and businesses sustainably and we just wanted to say “Thank You”.
How do Balcas Energy wood pellets have a good impact on the environment?
- Carbon neutral fuel
- Sourced entirely from sustainable forests in the UK and Ireland
- Created using 100% renewable energy (electricity and heat)
- Locally produced = Shorter transport distances = Lower carbon footprint
If you would like to know how much CO2 you have saved by purchasing Balcas Energy biomass pellets, Please contact us and a member of our customer support team will deal with any queries you may have.
You can order online 24/7 by visiting our Online Shop:
Thank You,
Balcas Energy Team
Our guaranteed delivery cut-off date for Christmas has been set
With winter approaching, it is essential that your home and wood pellet boiler are prepared for colder days ahead and you secure your winter order.
Ensure that your Wood Pellets supply is topped up to guarantee that your family stays comfortable as we approach the winter months and enter the New Year.
To secure your delivery before Christmas, please order your fuel before 5:00 pm on Monday, 4th of December 2023.
We recommend you order in plenty of time to avoid any possible setbacks as we approach winter, the busiest time of the year.
What impact do Wood Pellets have on climate change?
For decades, the wood residue from manufacturing & sawmilling processes was burned in beehive burners and unwanted logs, branches, and tops from harvesting were left on site, creating fire and insect risks. Today, an increasing amount of that is being turned into wood pellets.
Here at Balcas Energy, our locally produced pellets are manufactured sustainably from the virgin wood residue as a co-product of Balcas’s sawmilling process. The original timber is either spruce or pine and they are locally sourced from sustainably managed forests, accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council. Our pellets are available to be delivered all across UK and ROI ensuring our consumers can do their part in helping the environment.
So, what impacts do they have on environment…
Wood pellets are part of the climate change solution as we switch away from fossil fuels. The energy industry is increasingly using biomass to replace fossil fuels to substantially lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Wood pellets are supported a lot when it comes to providing energy. The worlds leading authority on climate change known as The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has recognised the significant GHG mitigation potential of biomass as much as 80 to 90% provided that it is developed sustainably and used efficiently (Murray, 2020).
Why choose Balcas Energy?
The wood pellets created here at Balcas Energy are created to a high standard, bagged securely, and meet ENplus A1 certification standards which ensures your biomass appliance will need to face any issues from the wood pellets we create.
When choosing wood pellets, it is good to know where they come from and how they are produced as many of us would like to ensure they are created in a way that is sustainable and has a good impact on the environment.
When a tree falls to the ground and rots, it releases carbon dioxide. When we harvest a tree from a local forest, Balcas uses every part of it to create timber products, energy, and ensures four more trees are planted. The products we create from the timber such as those used in construction become long-term carbon sinks that store carbon long after the original tree would have rotted and decayed if left in the forest naturally. We also use 100% renewable energy to create the wood pellets in our two local plants in Enniskillen and Invergordon. Please watch our sustainability video that outlines how Balcas Energy performs Balcas Sustainability Story. From tree to renewable energy and back to the tree. – YouTube
Here at Balcas Energy, our main aim is to provide good quality wood pellets at a competitive price to ensure our customers get excellent renewable energy. If you have any queries please check our FAQ page before contacting us.
To place an order:
Thank You,
Balcas Energy
Everything You Need To Know about Wood Pellets
As the largest manufacturer and distributor in the UK and Ireland, we thought that in addition to the FAQ section of our website, we would prepare an easy-to-read guide on everything you need to know about wood pellets, how to prepare for the winter, and where to get them!
What are Wood Pellets?
Wood Pellets are small, cylindrical pieces made from wood residue produced as a by-product of Balcas’ sawmilling processes in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The pellets created, are made locally at the highest standards with the original timber being either spruce or pine locally sourced from sustainably managed forests.
As an alternative to fossil fuel, wood pellets are an environmentally friendly fuel. Especially thanks to the manufacturing process at Balcas, where we make them with renewable energy and high-quality materials. Our operations are powered by green electricity, generated on-site thanks to the co-products of all Balcas saw-milling activities.
For every tree we use, 4 more are planted – the heart of our sustainability story.
What are wood pellets used for?
As an alternative to fossil fuel, wood pellets are an environmentally friendly fuel, used for heating purposes. They are used in biomass boilers to produce heat, and hot water in homes. Furthermore, in the commercial and industrial sectors, they are used as a zero-carbon fuel, for heat generation and industrial production.
How Much Do Wood Pellets Cost?
Depending on how you want to store your fuel, we’ve put together the best prices we could. See here the options on how to store your pellet fuel
As we have different prices for each location, you can quickly add your location, postcode, and choose your product type (Bulk or Bags) HERE. Your unique price will be shown on the screen with Delivery charges and taxes included. The quote you get is the price you pay.
Do I need Good Quality Wood Pellets?
When looking to buy your pellet fuel, you have to make sure that they are certified ENplus A1 and they also have a BSL accreditation. At Balcas Energy we carefully screen, test, and quality check each pellet, in order to comply with the highest quality accreditation.
ENplus A1 is the best assurance and guarantee of premium-quality wood pellets that you can get. Low-quality wood pellets can damage your boiler and cost you more in the long run.
Where can you buy ENplus A1 Pellets?
As we manufacture our wood pellets, we’re in control of our supply and stocks. We supply all year round, across the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and supply from 10 different depots strategically placed around the countries.
We use our own delivery fleet for providing Bulk Wood Pellets – available to order online anytime. Alternatively, you can order via phone, via email, or via our Online Form and our Customer Support Team will place your order for you.
Our 10kg Bagged Wood Pellets are also available online and we deliver across all UK & Ireland. They are available in different sizes: 250kg, 500kg and 750kg. The 960kg pallet for bags is only available on the Island of Ireland at the moment, but we’re looking into making this available for GB soon. Just add your postcode and check your price.
How many wood pellets are used in a year?
Depending on how you want to store your fuel and based on your heating needs, this can vary from as little as 3 tonnes per year in a home setting. However, if this was an industrial setting such as whiskey production or big commercial customers in need of large amounts of heat production, this would be thousands of tonnes per annum.
To find out how much you would use, you have to look up your current energy bill and see how many kilowatt-hours you are using on a monthly basis. If you take into consideration that an average of 4,000 kWh of heat requires around 1 Tonne of high-quality wood pellets, you can easily calculate how many tonnes you would need for your home in a year.
Please also take a look at everything you need to know about wood pellets storage instructions here.
Is Demand High for our locally sourced fuel?
Due to the banning of Russian-origin pellets in 2022, many suppliers had no stock meaning our customer base increased massively. As the market is in a much more stable condition for the 2023 winter heating season, we expect extremely high demand again for our locally produced, ENplus A1 wood pellets. We strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to fill your fuel store well in advance.
If you have more questions…
Please visit the FAQ section of our website. You can also email us or call us anytime, we’ll get back to you ASAP!
