Wood to Energy
Using wood as a renewable source of energy has the potential to deliver considerable benefits, not only in terms of mitigating climate-change but also in social and economic terms. Prospective benefits include supporting sustainable communities, alleviating fuel poverty, creating jobs and skills and enabling efficient local energy networks.
The carbon dioxide produced by burning wood has been absorbed during the tree’s life. This means that no extra carbon is put into the atmosphere, hence wood fuel is 'carbon neutral'. Burning trees also only creates as much carbon dioxide as would have been released if the tree were left to rot naturally.
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. All Fountains Forestry’s managed woodlands are managed in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard and all felling is governed by management plans that are drawn up by Fountains Forestry and agreed with the Forestry Commission. Many of our woodlands are also certified to the United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) and, as such, meet the requirements of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC).These standards ensure that woodland is managed sustainably and to the best environmental standards.
Wood fuel produced in sustainably managed forests is ‘replaced’ by the next crop of growing trees, which will reabsorb the same amount of carbon that is emitted by the current timber being burned. For this reason, unlike finite reserves of fossil fuel, sustainably managed woodland can produce an endlessly renewable source of energy.
Sustainable management of woodlands for wood fuel is good for wildlife, biodiversity and woodland health and vigour because the thinning, harvesting and coppicing of trees for wood fuel opens up the woodland floor to sunlight. This encourages a greater range of plants, animals and insects to flourish than if the woodland were left to become dense, dark and overgrown.
Fountains Forestry’s services include:
- Planning and supervision of harvesting operations
- Marketing of timber and biomass products
- Woodchip and log production
- Advice on site assessment, woodfuel feasibility, fuelstore design, felling licences, grant support where appropriate and supply chain logistics
For information on grants, the Biomass Energy Centre holds a list of possible funding for projects on sustainable and renewable energy.
Call: 01295 753233
for forest and land management, acquisition and brokerage services and environmental consultancy.
