What are the benefits of Woodfuel?

Climate Change  or Global Warming is here and there's nothing we can do about it. Wrong!

All of us can do something to slow down and eventually reduce the harmful effects of a warming world. Energy efficiency is a great starting place as well as walking more or using public transport.

However much we change our lifestyles and energy use we will still need to heat our homes and businesses. The cost of oil and gas for domestic heating has yo yo'd in recent years. With the trend definitely rising. Even without this increasing cost the main benefits of wood fuel are that it is renewable and clean and will help to provide a sustainable future for generations to come.

Wood can be used as a fuel in several ways. Traditionally, logs have been burned in open fires and stoves. Stoves have been updated with modern technology which has helped increase the efficiency of logs. First generation wood fuel boilers used wood chip. More recently these are being replaced with highly efficient boilers and stoves designed to burn compressed sawdust pellets.

Batch log boilers are also being seen as a way to burn logs more efficiently. Compressed sawdust briquettes can replace logs in all forms of wood and multifuel boilers and stoves (except those designed specifically for pellets). The advantage of briquettes over logs is in their higher calorific value (up to 4.75 times more energy than air dried logs). This comes from their density and the fact that they are virtually moisture free at less than 8% compared to 25% for seasoned logs.

2 Kg of pellets provides the same calorific value as 1 litre of oil. So if you need to calculate a cost comparison divide the price given for 1 tonne of pellets by 500 to give a direct pence per litre comparison.

Example: 1 tonne of bagged pellets = £245 (cheaper for bulk blown).

245 ÷ 500 = 49p per litre equivalent of heating oil.  

Woodfuel also has an ongoing benefit to the environment and landscape. Well managed woodlands provide places for wildlife and people alike. Tree crops need to be planted closely together at first to encourage straight growth with few side branches. After about five years some of these trees need to be thinned out. It is these thinnings that Treenergy will use.

If woodlands are not thinned the trees become very tall and thin and vulnerable to wind blowing them down. It also gets very dark and plants and animals, including many insects cannot thrive under their shade.

Felling trees creates patches of light on the forest floor. As well as thinning and felling an ancient technique known as coppicing is used to produce a continuous supply of wood from the same tree. Coppicing is especially valuable for butterflies. Many coppice woodlands and other woodlands have suffered from under management. Now that most of our paper is recycled the market for wood pulp has reduced. As well as the loss of markets there is also a lot of cheap charcoal and other products available from overseas. Treenergy hopes to encourage markets for local woodland produce which will provide jobs for foresters and encourage woodland owners to manage their woodlands again.

Millions of tonnes a year of perfectly usable wood goes to landfill. Treenergy will make use of some of this wood by recycling clean and untreated wood into fuel.

Treenergy Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 5927847.VAT Registration Number: 891 5769 69 

Registered Office: 10 Chapel Close, Wyesham, MONMOUTH, Monmouthshire, NP25 3NN