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Woodfuel and bio-energy


Woodfuel demand and usage in Scotland 2011 update

The latest report into the use of woodfuel in Scotland is now available.

Read Woodfuel demand and usage in Scotland 2011 (PDF 540k).

Forestry Commission Scotland supports the creation of a vibrant, viable and expanding bio-energy sector:

Supply

We already supply substantial volumes to the biomass industry and have identified additional volumes suitable for biomass to tender on the open market (See more information on current tenders).

We lead the Woodfuel Task Force, set up with the aim of increasing the supply of wood for renewable energy production.

Development of the supply chain is an important part of encouraging the woodfuel industry.  The Scottish Government has welcomed the Woodfuel Task Force report and its recommendations to increase the available resource for bioenergy use.  New businesses are being set up to supply biomass at all scales, and a list of suppliers is available on the www.usewoodfuel.co.uk website.

Research into energy forestry and woodfuel use

We have established a network of Energy Forestry Exemplar Sites to provide us with information on the economics, environmental impacts and carbon balance of energy forestry.

Our annual Woodfuel Usage and Demand Study looks at existing and potential woodfuel usage in the commercial, industrial and electrical energy sectors.

Providing woodfuel advice

We have a network of advisers across Scotland providing advice on woodfuel to businesses, communities and individuals; they advise the rural sector on grants available through the SRDP for supply chain development and woodfuel installations.

Our European-funded Regional Biomass Advice Network is a comprehensive programme of work to support development of the sector, in partnership with Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Forest Research.

The dedicated website at www.usewoodfuel.co.uk has information using woodfuel in many different types of situation, from heating the home to developing a large-scale energy plant.

Grant support for biomass heating systems

We deliver grant support for woodfuel installations through the £3.3 million Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme, in partnership with Scottish Government.  In 07/08 we delivered £7 million of grants to over 60 projects to install biomass heating and set up supply chains, through the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.

See support for renewables and bio-energy, below.

Working with Scottish Government

We are represented on the Scottish Government's Renewable Heat Implementation Group, established to deliver the actions in Scotland's Renewable Heat Action Plan (RHAP). 

We have also provided advice to the Scottish Government on windfarm projects that impact on forest habitats.

Woodfuel usage study

This study looks at existing and potential woodfuel usage in the commercial, industrial and electrical energy sectors of the Scottish market in 2010. The information in the study is used to:

  • establish the extent of the continuing growth of the woodfuel sector
  • inform the Scottish Government on the progress towards its targets for woodfuel use and renewable energy generation
  • assess the effects of projects in the planning stage on long term supply and demand in the sector, and the likely effects on long term markets for timber from the national forest and other potential sources of woodfuel.

The report follows on from the work of the Scottish Woodfuel Task Force.

Previous updates:

Support for renewables & bio-energy

There is a range of measures to support bio-energy from expanding the resource to installing woodfuel systems:

  • Grants are available under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) (www.scotland.gov.uk/srdp) for woodland creation and management, as well as for the establishment of Short Rotation Coppice. Other options available include measures to help farm and forestry businesses, rural micro-enterprises and communities install renewable energy systems or set up supply chains.
  • The UK Government is currently consulting on a Renewable Heat Incentive which will provide long-term revenue support for all forms of renewable heat, including woodfuel. The consultation closes on 26th April 2010 and details are available at www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx
  • Support for biomass electricity and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is provided through the Renewables Obligation (Scotland)