Woodfuel Scotland

This is a free 2-day event organised by Highland Birchwoods' usewoodfuel project. It is aimed mainly at managers and owners of all sizes of woodlands.

For more information, contact Amanda Calvert: T: 01463 811186 E: amanda.calvert@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

From DECC Press Release. [Note that RHI is unlikely to apply to log-fuelled stoves or bolers.]

"As announced on 20 October 2010, as part of the Spending Review, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will go ahead in 2011. We believe the RHI Scheme is the first of its kind in the world and will therefore be a world-leading scheme to provide long term support for renewable heat technologies, from household solar thermal panels to industrial wood pellet boilers. The RHI will represent over £850m of investment over the spending review period, driving a more-than-tenfold increase of renewable heat over the coming decade and shifting renewable heat from a fringe industry firmly into the mainstream.

Heat production is responsible for around half (49%) of the final energy demand consumed in the UK and roughly half of all UK’s carbon emissions. Taking action now to switch from fossil fuels to cleaner and more sustainable green sources of energy will reduce the impact that our heat requirements have on the environment and help ensure the UK has an energy supply that is safe, secure and reliable.

As part of the Spending Review process we have looked again at the RHI to target the scheme more effectively. We have more work to do to determine support levels, but we believe the level of savings required from the spending review will enable us to meet our key targets in renewables deployment and carbon savings.

We remain committed to the ambition of moving from 1% to 12% of all heat generated from a renewable source by 2020. This will require all aspects of society to play their part – householders, communities, public, commercial and industrial sectors.

We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the scheme, including RHI tariffs and technologies supported, before the end of this year, and be open for business from June 2011."

See also: proposals on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, published in February 2010.

Trees - A Valuable Crop - Nethy Bridge - 3 November

FARM woodlands will be under the spotlight at a unique free workshop coming up in the Cairngorms National Park.

From producing firewood and sheltering livestock to improving the soil and helping wildlife, woods provide a spectrum of opportunities for farmers keen to improve the land and diversify their business.

As efforts to cut greenhouse gases intensify, trees are increasingly recognised as being crucial in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and keeping the environment healthy.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has been working with the Clim-ATIC EU programme to promote the use of woodfuel. Land managers in the National Park have now teamed up with Soil Asociation Scotland, as part of their climate change programme, to organise an exciting new workshop 'Trees - A Valuable Crop' at Nethy Bridge on Wednesday 3 November.

"Well managed farm woodlands can meet a whole range of objectives, such as livestock shelter, firewood and timber production, soil improvement, carbon storage and biodiversity,” explained Lyn Matheson, agricultural development officer at Soil Association Scotland.

“This events aims to introduce and discuss different examples of integrated land and woodland management.

“There are lots of great opportunities for farmers to make more of woodlands, both for business and to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation through woodfuel production, increasing woodland cover, and effective and sustainable woodland management.”

Farming in a changing climate, trees and woodlands on farms and the business opportunities offered by trees and collaboration opportunities are among the topics to be discussed in the morning.

An afternoon visit to Balliefurth Farm will see demonstrations of equipment including log splitters, kindling machines and tractor mounted processors.

For further details and to book a place log onto www.lowcarboncairngorms.org or phone 01479 870537.

Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme - 3rd Round

A third round of the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme was announced by Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in the Scottish Parliament today, 25th November 2009.

The closing date for the third round is 12th February 2010.

Further information, application forms and guidance notes can be found
at http://www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/ScottishBiomassHeatScheme.stm.

If you intend to apply for support for a biomass project we would strongly recommend discussing your project at an early stage with our Regional Biomass Advice Network. Contact details for your nearest adviser can be found at http://www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/ContactUs.stm

If you have any questions, contact Mary Caldwell, Woodfuel Project Admin/BEC
Tel (Reception): 01349 860 919 Email: mary.caldwell@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
www.usewoodfuel.co.uk
www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk

Community woodfuel events in Cairngorms National Park

A free community wood fuel event in the Park takes place in Ballater’s Victoria and Albert Hall on 16 January. This is the second of 2 such events.

Many towns and villages in and around the Cairngorms National Park are surrounded by woodlands which could be managed to provide a renewable fuel source on the doorstep.

“Using local logs to heat your home or business releases a tiny fraction of the carbon dioxide that fossil fuels such as coal or oil do, and the fuel doesn’t have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to reach you” said Clive Bowman, of Clim-ATIC, which is running the project in conjunction with the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

“Using locally sourced wood doesn’t just make sense in terms of your carbon footprint. Rising heating oil prices can cause a lot of hardship; managing local forests to provide a reliable supply of wood fuel will prove healthier for people’s pockets as well.”

Identifying opportunities, working with landowners, woodland ownership, quality of supply of logs and chips, grants, insurance, health and safety and distribution and sales of firewood are some of the topics to be covered during Saturday’s event.

The options and advantages of heating community buildings using automated woodchip, log or pellet systems will also be looked at.

Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend and the organisers are also keen to hear from participants about their own circumstances and experiences.

People are welcome to show up on the day; however to help organisers establish numbers for refreshments booking would be helpful. Please phone Nicola Donald on 01738 877204 or e-mail woodfuelbooking@lowcarboncairngorms.org as soon as possible to book.

Woodfuel in the Cairngorms is part of the Clim-ATIC project, which receives funding from the EU's Northern Periphery Programme. This event is being run by Clim-ATIC, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Highland Birchwoods, with support from Forestry Commission Scotland.

Woodfuel Supply Chain Workshops
From Forest to Gate
20 – 24 October 2009 (venues across Scotland)

These one day workshops* provide essential information for forest managers, woodland owners, contractors and others with an interest in the supply chain of the emerging wood biomass sector.

Programme covers: -

§           Wood energy basics - wood compared to other fuels
§           Classification of woodfuels looking at latest European Standards
§           Supply and demand scales
§           Fuel quality issues and quality classes
§           Harvesting methods including thinnings and clearfell residues
§           Transportation, delivery and storage
§           Quantification (conversion factors such as tonnes, m3, kWhrs, GJ, etc.)
§           Wood energy case studies - domestic, district heating, CHP etc.
§         Woodfuel Contracts, exercise

*These workshops may provide up to 7 hours CPD

Each course costs £40 (incl. VAT) per person. Please click HERE and follow the Woodfuel Supply Chain Workshops link under General Events to download booking details.
PLEASE NOTE: Each workshop is limited to a maximum of 20 participants. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

"Biomass for Business" seminars for installers and suppliers

Real fires make the world a better place by Mark Smith in The Herald - an article about the reality of using a woodstove in a city. Includes these figures: "...in 2006 there were 120,000 stoves sold; an estimate for [2007] is 160,000."