Renewable Fuel - Why Biomass?

The use of woodfuel and other forms of biomass is unique among renewables because it is based on harnessing stored solar energy in the form of a fuel, whether wood from the forest, timber processing, agricultural by-products such as straw or dedicated energy crops grown specifically as an energy feedstock.

Because it is based on using a fuel, biomass energy can be used on demand and is not dependent on external factors such as the weather. This allows it to be uniquely suitable for heating where reliability and continuity of energy supply is paramount.

Woodfuel is carbon neutral and renewable leading to reductions in CO2 emissions by offsetting the use of fossil fuels. Our clients, through their developments of wood energy projects, therefore directly contribute to meeting the emissions reductions necessary to combat climate change.

Woodfuel is a very competitive source of energy compared to most fossil fuels. It has the potential to offer our clients affordable energy at prices that may also to a major degree be insulated from the increases in fossil fuel prices. This is particularly so in areas where natural gas is not available.

Woodfuel offers an important diversification opportunity for forestry and timber processing enterprises. The limited and uncertain demand for small dimension roundwood and sawmill co-products is an acknowledged barrier for better forestry management. The demand created by “wood for energy” will help to solve this while also creating employment and provide an income for owners, contractors and wood fuel suppliers.

Woody Energy Crops such as short rotation coppice or short rotation forestry have the potential to offer an important diversification for farmers and the use of clean wood for energy also offers a route for reducing waste disposal costs and for taking significant quantities of material out of the waste stream and landfill.