Hi Andrew I have been running the 60 kw system the same as your boiler for two months and thought i would pass on what i have picked up.
Rip up that bit of paper with the estimate on it and work out yourself what you need. I am bang on to reach my predicted RHI but will be burning between 20 and 30 tons more hardwood than predicted, although I am now burning softwood. Buy a Ton of hardwood and see how long it lasts and how much KW you get from it.
If you still have your original heating system don't panic, but if you don't get onto your local firewood guys asap and get at least 12 cubic meters of soft wood a month it could go up to 20 if the weather gets grim (depending on your house size and insulation). You will probably have to take what is in stock but not putting logs in at 50cm will affect how the boiler performs.
I tried 8 log suppliers when i started up and bought loose cubic, solid cubic, trailer load and ton bags which all came in different sizes. Cheapest is not always the way to go but I found neither was the dearest. Some really good guys out there supplying logs but you need to weed out the crap. Also if log supplies is not the guys main job you may have to work with them.
Buying dried logs makes the system very expensive. You need to get 26 ton of soft in then get a local guy with processor to come in and cut it to 50cm lengths and between 8 and 14 cm width. and start drying. I hope to get into the way of having wood sitting for a year then process then another years drying.
Also if your current RHI application has not already been passed you will need to wait until next year when the government sorts out the sub 500kw mess.
And finally a big thumbs up for Larch.
