Never heard of Bio Ethanol? You, and a lot of people. We have been using it for about eight years in our stoves and it has been a steep learning curve. Modern Bio Ethanol fires have been around for years and are certainly gaining traction with the design industry and are definitely being talked about a lot in the glossies.

We decided we wanted to do our bit for the environment and find an alternative way to use these lovely stoves without burning fossil fuels which are so detrimental to the environment. We are a very environmentally aware company, after all our stoves are the perfect example of recycling. Little did we realise that by 2022 we would be ahead of the game as the change in the law meant we wouldn’t be able to have our lovely stoves installed to burn wood or sold fuel.

Bio ethanol is a liquid which is manufactured from plants such as Maize and Sugar Cane. They add enzymes to convert the sugar content to alcohol. It is then distilled and dehydrated and eventually it becomes 97% pure Bio Ethanol. The process in Europe is being refined to use clean sources of energy such as Wood pellets to process the plants and also using the by-products from the plant fermentation.

Bio Ethanol is an environmentally sound fuel which release CO2 and a tiny amount of water vapour when burnt (which is why it needs no chimney) which has a carbon neutral footprint in that the quantity of CO2 released in the equivalent of the CO2 the plants absorbed from the air in their growth phase. Furthermore, the fuel is 100% efficient as you benefit from all of the heat with none disappearing up the chimney.

There is no installation, no building regs, no flues or pipes, no gas or electric is required and can be placed in any room which has sufficient size and ventilation. There are no insurance implications for Thatched properties, no worry of chimney fires and no maintenance.

Cost wise, they are no dearer than burning wood, around 60p an hour currently. There are 2 different sizes of box; a smaller round box which holds around a litre (cost £95 inc VAT) and a larger, long box which holds 1.5 litres (cost £150 inc VAT). Bio Ethanol is readily available online with next day delivery.

The most frequently asked question is, “do they give out any heat?” The answer is most unequivocally “Yes”. Clients are always amazed at how hot they are so it’s not just about the aesthetic.

What does all of this mean for you? It means you can get one of our gorgeous stoves, take it home, or have it delivered and sit watching those lovely flames the same night. What’s not to like?

If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to give us a ring on 01380 587013 or email here.

Incidentally, please be very wary of buying stoves which are supposedly converted to burn Bio Ethanol off well known auction sites etc. It has taken us years to work out the science behind this and clearly looking at a lot of stoves for sale on these sites, other people think you can just put a box inside and burn it. This is potentially lethal, please don’t risk your life for a few pounds.