Replacement Heating System.....lpg, Oil Or Biomass....and Does Solar Fit In?

[harrishawk]

Hi all

We are about to move to a 1980's-ish bungalow which is well insulated etc but the current oil-fired system (no mains gas) is rather old (boiler = Trianco 15-19) and the oil tank (single skin steel) failed on the servicing report on valves and being too close to a door. Whilst we are assured that the boiler is working (84% efficiency) we do feel that we might need to replace the system. In our current house we have a Worcester Bosch LPG Greenstar coupled to Bosch solar water panels that we are delighted with.

In view of cost of replacement boiler and fuel holding system plus fitting etc we are wondering whether it would be best to stay with oil, switch to LPG (I would want to purchase tank due to ongoing cost per litre difference), or whether to switch to a biomass boiler (pellets with hopper near boiler). Again, if possible, whichever system we end up with we would like to retain the benefit of the solar water heating.

We have a reasonably open mind and are looking to go down the best long-term route. Anyone able to give any thoughts in terms of initial set up and ongoing (fuel purchase/servicing etc) costs and relative merits (or otherwise) of the three fuels.

We are thinking also of adding a PV system - could this also influence the direction we go in (the roof - is S-SSW facing)?

I know a pretty broad scope question but I feel I'm going round in circles at the moment!!

Cheers
HH

[whiskeryron]

http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/portal/page?_pageid=75,163182&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

WR.