Woodfuel

 

Summary

Forest Research, the wider Forestry Commission and the woodland industries are working together to assist the development of a substantial woodfuel industry throughout the UK. Such an industry could offer new and significant business opportunities for landowners and farmers - and encourage energy users to change to renewable energy.

This research aims to:

• Produce guidance in consultation with the forestry sector and other related industries – universities, government departments and other organisations that have an interest in this developing market
• Cover all types of woodfuel, but currently excludes recycled material, joinery residues, and straw and grasses.

Background and UK Government policy

Research objectives

The objectives are to produce up to date technical information in plain and clear language, which gives straightforward practical advice to individuals, community groups and industry in the UK. This will reflect best practice, which is at the core of government policy in terms of sustainability and is central to documents such as the UK Energy White Paper, the UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS), the UK Forestry Standard and other devolved policies.

Not only should this work benefit the industry in terms of enhancing the economic value of forest and woodland resources but also it should help inform other sectors such as peat-free soil conditioners.

Funders and partners

This research is perfomed by Forest Research Technical Development and is funded by the Forestry Commission.

Forestry Commission policy

An objective of the Forestry Commission is to support the Government's policy of sustainable forest management. This includes enhancing economic value of forests and woodland resources.

Wood and other sources of biomass have an important contribution to make to our future energy needs:

• Climate change is a reality and using woodfuel will help reduce our reliance on burning fossil fuels which contributes to the process of global warming
• New markets for woodfuel will help to create and maintain rural jobs as well as contribute to the sustainable management of our woodlands.

Woodfuel information

• Woodfuel publications
• Biomass Energy Centre
  A 'one stop shop' able to provide advice to anyone with an interest in biomass derived fuels and associated conversion technologies.
• Woodfuel Resource
  Website and application for Forest Research study into the potentially available woodfuel resource of Great Britain. Results are presented in an interactive manner.
• Yield Models for Energy Coppice of Poplar and Willow
  Website for Forest Research project measuring and modelling short rotation coppice. Includes information for growers, researchers and the bio-energy industry.

Status

Forest Research Technical Development work on woodfuel has been ongoing for many years. In September 2001 there was a strategic review of the operational woodfuel programme aimed at informing and prioritising future work in the programme area.

Current activities:

• Investigations into methods for achieving woodfuel specifications, which aim to identify the numerous factors affecting the sustainable development of a woodfuel supply industry in the UK.
• A series of seminars and presentations that has woodfuel production as a core issue. In order to deliver these a significant amount of research was performed that gave us an overall characterisation of the woodfuel market which is probably unique at this time, and has allowed us to establish ourselves as the ‘honest broker’ to the industry.

Ongoing work includes:

• The production, in conjunction with Forest Enterprise, of further fact sheets for the Woodfuel Information Pack
• Bulk transport issues in relation to wood chip haulage, and long term drying trials for short round wood.

Contact

Stephanie Roux
Forest Research
Technical Development
Linmere
Delamere
Northwich
Cheshire CW8 2JD

Tel: 01889 586844
Fax: 01889 585225
E-mail: stephanie.roux@forestry.gsi.gov.uk