The Forestry Commission has enough wood lying around Scotland to provide four years’ fuel for the type of small biomass plants used in some Tayside schools, it has emerged.
Although the 400,000 tonnes of trees and branches only amounts to five months’ fuel if compared with the amount of wood chips used by the country as a whole, the scattered nature of its supply means it would be better suited to small-scale use.
Small biomass boilers are becoming increasingly popular in schools and small firms. Angus Council has installed biomass boilers in schools in Monifieth, Tannadice, Arbroath and Airlie.
Planning permission has also been granted for biomass plants at a housing estate at Cardenden in Fife and at the proposed new Dundee HQ of Hillcrest Housing Association.
Large-scale biomass plants of the type proposed for Dundee’s waterfront burn the vast majority of the commission’s output and their demand for woodchips is increasing but they have little use for small amounts of locally-sourced wood.
Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham said, “The fact that businesses across the country are making the move to wood fuel shows it makes business sense and that confidence in this emerging sector is helping new, local suppliers to make a go of their wood fuel business.”
A Forestry Commission Scotland spokesman said, “This under used resource is located all over Scotland, and the best option would be to make use of this material as close to source as possible so benefiting smaller, local heat and/or energy plants.”
Image used permission of Adrian van Leen on openphoto.