Bulk propane or heating-oil storage tank

Above-ground or buried tank storing propane or heating oil, refilled by tanker delivery, far higher energy density and no manual processing (splitting, stacking, seasoning) compared to firewood, and burns on demand at a steady, controllable rate. Trade-off: depends entirely on an external delivery supply chain and combustion appliance, is a non-renewable fossil fuel, and the tank/fittings need periodic professional inspection.

Cost
Medium
Upkeep
Occasional
Skill to build
Intermediate
Lifespan
20-30+ years for the tank itself (steel tanks need periodic corrosion inspection); fittings/regulators need earlier replacement every 10-15 years
Embodied carbon
High
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
On-demand/controllable
Skill to repair
Intermediate

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

Space for tank siting meeting fire-code setback distances, and access for tanker delivery

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.