Wood fuels increases in greener energy

The demand for wood fuel in Scotland is continuing to increase according to a report issued this week. Previously underused sources of wood are being turned into a locally sourced fuel and at the same time, the Forestry Commission who look after some 660,000 hectares of woodland in Scotland, is benefiting from a new revenue stream.

The report by Nevin Associates suggests that by using the equivalent of over 1 million green tonnes of woodfuel in 2009, large-scale energy generators and local heat users saved over half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

This low-cost, low-carbon option is proving particularly popular with small to medium sized businesses and community heat projects, which account for the largest number of woodfuel installations in the past year.

Reacting to the report, environment minister Roseanna Cunningham described it as excellent news for Scotland.

"The fact that businesses across the country are making the move to woodfuel shows it makes business sense and that confidence in this emerging sector is helping new, local suppliers to make a go of their woodfuel business.

"But the increasing demand for clean, green woodfuel means that we have to make the best and most efficient use of all our available resources.

The minister wanted to see further progress with a recent study indicating that there could be over 400,000 tonnes of biomass material available from as yet untapped sources that could be recovered and processed into wood chips or pellets.