FAQs
Is woodfuel clean?
Woodfuel presents no risk if accidentally released into the environment and there are no harmful by-products. The flue gas is smoke free and the ash content of between 0.5% and 1.5% by volume is minimal.
Why is wood as a fuel carbon neutral?
As it burns, wood produces carbon dioxide - one of the main greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. But this CO2 is absorbed by new growth. This means that no extra carbon is put into the atmosphere - which is why wood fuel is carbon neutral. Although, during processing more CO2 is released to the atmosphere, this is insignificant in comparison to other fuel types the 'embedded' energy in woodchip is negligible, much less than wood pellets.
Woodland in the UK is a renewable resource and therefore as trees are felled new trees are planted or re-grow as coppice. During the process of photosynthesis carbon is stored in the growing tree and the woodland soil. In the UK woodlands are managed in line with the UK Forest Standards and all felling is controlled by the Forestry Commission. The standards ensure that woodland is managed sustainably and to the best environmental standards.
Does using woodfuel for boilers damage woodland?
On the contrary, a demand for logs and woodchip creates a market for timber and wood residues that would otherwise go to landfill. It can help provide financial support to woodland management and can have a positive impact on flora and fauna, if managed correctly.
Every woodland has a sustainable yield, which can be harvested indefinitely without depleting supplies.
Where does Forest Fuels source its wood?
Forest Fuels supplies woodchip and logs from a series of depots around the UK, each depot is fed from local timber resources and provides a market for under-utilised woodland resources. This means that local farmers, co-operatives, woodland management companies, sawmills, arboriculturalists, etc can all feed into the woodfuel market. Woodfuel is beginning to show its potential for unlocking the numerous under-managed woodlands of the south west and the consequent benefits to biodiversity.
Can woodfuel benefit the local economy?
A growing wood energy industry benefits the local economy because it generates income for owners, contractors, processors and suppliers. The increased forest management improves future productivity and asset value. Wood energy crops also have the potential to offer an important diversification opportunity for farmers.
Is there enough timber in the South West country?
It is estimated that the woodlands of the south west have the sustainable capacity to produce 200,000 oven dry tonnes per annum of woodfuel. This equates to 4 million gigajoules of heat - enough for 50 - 60,000 homes - without impacting on exiting timber markets. There is also the recycled waste wood stream which has the potential to yield substantial volumes of woodfuel material.
For further information download the document below:
SW Woodfuel Framework.pdf
How many woodchip boilers have been installed in the south west?
South west England currently has about 10MW of biomass heat installed and 2.2MW of biomass plant generating electricity over some 30 projects. The recently launched bioheat programme administered by Regen SW will see a further 32 MW of installed capacity which will equate to around 40 new bioheat systems. Confidence in the sector is growing with every new installation.
See a map of renewable installations http://www.surveys.energysw.com
For further information on Woodfuel supply you can download the following guidance documents:
Woodfuel Supply Contract Options
Woodfuel Distribution and Handling