Bioethanol is creating a warm glow in living rooms and beyond as we think about saving money on gas and electricity and seek out an alternative to woodburning stoves.
Searches for 'bioethanol fire' are up 200 per cent this year*, says online home retailer Wayfair. Adam Oldfield, director at StovesAreUs, says he's also picked up on Google Trends data showing the largest spike to date in searches for 'bioethanol fireplace' last winter.
'We've found the sector has steadily grown as more consumers look to heat their homes in a clean, more environmentally and cost-effective way,' says Adam. 'Bio fires – as they are also called – are especially useful for off-grid properties and can be incredibly practical for homes that experience regular power outages.'
Here's what you need to know:
Green and clean: what is a bioethanol fire?
One of the main benefits associated with a bioethanol fire is its environmental impact. 'A real flame is produced and, because ethanol-fuelled heaters burn cleanly, they do not contribute particulates or harmful emissions to your indoor environment,' says Adam.
Bioethanol fuel is produced using plants such as sugar cane, straw and maize. It's classed as 100 per cent renewable because these crops can be harvested year after year. When raw material is processed the liquid that comes out is distilled and purified to enhance the alcohol content.
It's easy to confuse bioethanol fires with gel-powered fires. Bioethanol is a liquid. Gel is pure isopropyl alcohol, salt, water and thickening agent.
'Another benefit of bioethanol stoves is their incredibly clean operation,' says Joanna Humphreys, stove specialist at Direct Stoves. 'As bioethanol is an alcohol it burns incredibly well and doesn't give off soot, ash or any other type of material typically associated with combustibles. The only things that bioethanol does release are water vapour and a trace amount of CO² (carbon dioxide).'
However, one issue to bear in mind; critics say that crops grown for use as bioethanol fuel are diverting land use and reducing capacity for food production.
Costs: how expensive is bioethanol?
Another benefit of bioethanol fires is cost. 'While the fireplaces themselves often come at a higher cost than their alternatives, bioethanol fuel can be cheaper than other fireplace fuels,' says Adam. 'Bioethanol fireplaces tend to use the fuel efficiently too, especially if the fuel is of a high quality.'
There are two outlays – purchase price and fuel. Fitting costs are free as most bioethanol fires are 'plug and play'. Or minimal, if any structural work is required, for a ceiling-hung model, for example.
'The purchase cost can be anywhere from £290 up to £1,000 and more,' says Joanna. 'How much you pay for a bioethanol stove will be largely determined by the quality of its construction, the brand that has designed and manufactured it, and the heat output and other technical features of the stove.'
A key point to look for is 'length of burn' because this will not only indicate how much fuel your fire requires, but how much attention it demands over the course of an evening, for example.
'The length of burn will be determined by the capacity of the stove's burner tray,' says Joanna. 'As you would expect, the more bioethanol you can fill it up with, the longer the fire will burn for.'
Another factor that will influence how long your stove burns for is the degree to which you allow the fire to burn. 'If you leave the burner tray wide open, this allows the fire to burn at its fullest,' Joanna explains. 'If you use the burner tray's sliding mechanism to modulate the fire, then it won’t burn as fiercely. You'll get less heat, but the bioethanol will last longer.'
Danish bioethanol fire company, Le Feu, advise that a litre of bio fuel (costing approximately £3.50) burns for around four hours at a 3kw heat output, suitable for heating a small to medium-sized room.
Don't forget – as you don't need gas or even electricity when using a bioethanol fire, this helps reduce monthly dual fuel bills.
The benefits of bioethanol
• Energy-efficient
Not only does bioethanol produce far fewer emissions than traditional fossil fuel, but it is energy efficient and a renewable fuel source, making it a much more sustainable option. 'Bioethanol is an incredibly efficient fuel, burning with a 98 per cent efficiency rate – meaning only two per cent of the fuel is wasted,' says Joanna. 'The other 98 per cent is directly converted into heat. This makes bioethanol perfect for heating your home when you want to avoid using expensive gas or electric central heating.'
Also, as a bioethanol fire doesn’t require a working chimney, you can block it up and reduce energy loss from your home through draughts.
• Easy to install
They also don't require a chimney and come without installation costs, making them not just hassle-free but free to set up.
A 'plug and play' wall-mounted bioethanol fire can be fitted in less than an hour. For ultimate relaxation, some wall-mounted bioethanol fires have a remote control so you're in charge of the heat and flames from the comfort of your sofa.
'If you buy a wall-mounted bioethanol fire, the main job of installing it will be fixing it to the wall,' says Joanna. 'This is a straightforward task and very similar to installing a wall-mounted electric fire.'
With a freestanding bioethanol fire, installation is even easier. Simply remove the appliance from its packaging and place it where you'd like it. Ceiling-mounted bioethanol fires require a little more work; they must be properly bolted or mounted to the ceiling.
• Look realistic
Bioethanol fires can look amazingly realistic, transforming any room into a welcoming haven. Because they don't need electricity, they're very flexible and can be installed in bedrooms and outdoor rooms without fuss.
• Instant focal point
As well as creating a mesmerising focal point with dancing flames, a bioethanol fire can also create a stunning standalone design feature in the home.
• Easy to use
A long fire-lighting rod or wand, usually supplied with the fire or manufacturer-recommended, is used to ignite the bioethanol fuel safely. Within the fire, the fuel is stored in a 'box' or 'cassette' which you fill up yourself.
• No smoke or fumes
There are no noxious emissions with bioethanol fuel, so this makes it a good choice for people who suffer from allergies or other health conditions, including respiratory problems.
• Possibly portable
Many bioethanol fires are portable, allowing you to enjoy the warmth and cosiness of the fire in a number of different rooms, even outdoors. 'On colder evenings, for instance, when you still want to enjoy the garden, you could move your living room fire to outdoors,' says Adam.
One major safety point: Portable bioethanol fires should never be moved when lit to avoid risk of burns.
Le Feu Bio Fuel Ground Low Tripod Portable Indoor / Outdoor Fireplace, Black/Soap Oak
The downsides
• Not ideal for large rooms
'One of the main considerations is that the heat output, at 2-3 kWh, can be lower than other fireplaces,' warns Adam. 'This means they aren't the best option if you're looking to have a bioethanol fire as your primary heat source, and are best suited to small or medium-sized rooms rather than larger spaces.'
• Lack atmosphere
As bioethanol fires don't burn wood, they lack that distinct cosy woodsmoke scent which many people love.
• Suits modern homes better
Some manufacturers say that with a wide range of styles, including log burner types, bioethanol fires are suitable for both modern and traditional homes. It all depends on personal preference and the look and atmosphere you're aiming for, but there tends to be a wider choice of contemporary bioethanol fires than traditional.
• Can take a while to warm up
Gas-powered and electric fires light instantly, but a bioethanol fire can take between 15 and 20 minutes to become fully 'on' with flames to accompany the heat.
Depending on the model of bioethanol fire and how long fuel lasts, you may have to go without flames and warmth for a while. This is because when the cassette becomes empty, you're often advised to leave 45 minutes before filling up to allow the fire's workings to cool down for safe handling. Just make sure you've got a blanket to hand!
• Safe storage space
You will need enough space to store bioethanol supplies safely and out of reach of children, pets and possible sources of danger. Never store spare bioethanol fuel close to the fire itself, to avoid accidental ignition.
Top tip: 'Like all types of fire or stove, bioethanol fires do require some ventilation. So, be sure to install yours in a room with enough ventilation. Although bioethanol fires only give off trace amounts of CO² (carbon dioxide), we recommend installing a carbon dioxide monitor by your appliance,' advises Joanna Humphreys, stove specialist at Direct Stoves.
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* (data sampled from 11th August - 8th September 2023 vs. 11th August - 8th September 2022).
