Wood chips are again completely natural and are made from both waste wood and sustainable virgin timber. Wood chip biomass systems are more suitable for larger applications and for those who can utilize a local source or their own wood supply to make the chip.
For high efficiency, wood chip needs to be consistent in size and stored in a covered area that allows air to circulate and naturally dry the chip. Wood chips offer the cheapest form of automated biomass heating.
Find out more about Wood Chip Boilers and how they work below.
The benefits
Can fully replace fossil fuelled boilers
Fully Automatic control/feed systems
Wood chips are lower cost than wood pellets
Installations can also be designed to burn wood pellets, sawdust and briquettes
Running costs are stable and reliable
Good for economy as source fuel can be grown and harvested locally
Several boilers can be grouped together for redundancy and peak heat demands
Remote boiler control over network or internet can be provided
Higher installation cost compared to fossil fuels
The check list
Requires larger fuel bunkers than wood pellets
Due to initial capital costs more suitable to larger domestic, commercial or industrial installs
Requires corrected sized graded fuel
Requires local maintenance and inspection
Requires annual maintenance by engineer
Requires occasional ash removal