Wood Chip To Fuel Ireland’s Energy Future

Over 300 delegates from across the country attended the event, which was hosted by the County Clare Wood Energy Project (CCWEP), in association with Teagasc and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

The seminar featured the launch of ‘Wood Boiler Installation Guidelines’ by Minister Mary Wallace, T.D., Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as well as the launch by the CCWEP of a new publication on the benefits of wood energy to Clare. It also included presentations by Minister of State, Tony Killeen, T.D, Stephen O'Sullivan of SEI, and Nuala Ni Fhlaithbheartaigh of Teagasc.

The seminar was followed by thinning, chipping and boiler site visits practically delivered at various sites around the county by a host of leading figures both nationally and locally in Clare, where CCWEP and its partners have been 'blazing a trail' in the wood energy sector for the past 3 years.

Ms. Doirin Graham, Chief Executive of RRD and the CCWEP, explained that the wood energy sector had the potential to sustainably employ hundreds of people across Ireland by 2020.

"In Clare alone, research indicates that over 170 jobs could be generated by the sector over the next 10-12 years. Local jobs, based on our own natural resources, will give us a more self-sufficient local economy. For example, the total contribution of wood energy to the Clare economy by 2020 is estimated at €9.8m per annum, if we meet the 95MW government target for biomass heat production," added Ms. Graham.

County Clare is now leading the way in Ireland in developing the wood energy market. It has been building its forestry industry since the early 1980s. 15.63% of Clare is forested, making it the fourth most afforested county in Ireland. It contains 6.8% of Ireland’s total forestry resource, 45,000 hectares in total, about half of which is privately owned and half in state ownership.

According to ‘A Study of the County Clare Farm Forestry Market’, there will be 70,000 tonnes of wood chip available per annum in Clare by 2020, not taking future additional planting into account.

The estimated demand for wood chip in the county in 2008 is 2,000 tonnes but Ms. Graham said she expects this figure to rise dramatically in the coming years.

She continued, "People are waiting to make a decision about changing over to wood energy but the fact of the matter is that wood energy has already arrived in Clare. People now need to take the step from interest into action. Wood chip heating, which is readily available in Clare, is by far the cheapest renewable energy technology to install per Kilowatt. If energy price and security is your concern, consider which is the greater risk—oil and gas from unstable regions of the world or a locally available abundant resource supplied in a competitive market?"

On average, wood chip fuel is 50% of the price of heating oil meaning that savings can be significant for large heat users in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Wood chip boilers are already installed in Clare County Council HQ, Olympus GMBH and Cahercalla Community Hospital with further installations scheduled for later this year.

"The increased use of wood energy brings with it environmental as well as economic benefits", stated Ms. Mary Ryan, who is a Forestry Specialist for Teagasc and Joint Manger of the CCWEP.

She added, "Wood fuel heating emits the least CO2 per unit of energy supplied of any energy technology. This will no doubt be a contributory factor to the growth of the sector as reducing our carbon footprint is becoming an important strategic goal for the commercial, industrial and public sectors. In County Clare alone, the annual carbon levy saving per annum by 2020 from using wood chip is conservatively estimated at €1.53m."

Ms Ryan said that the wood energy sector in Clare was now firmly established.

"A local wood chip supply chain is already up and running in Clare. Timber harvesting, chipping, storage and fuel delivery infrastructure is in place to service the local energy market. A new wood fuel market involving a number of fuel suppliers has developed which offers the customer a real choice and a competitive price. Quality control mechanisms are in place to ensure that this new energy source meets the required standards on a consistent basis", she stated.

Rural Resource Development and Teagasc established the County Clare Wood Energy Project in 2005 with the support of local and national organisations. Its aim is to develop a robust, competitive and sustainable wood energy market in Clare. The CCWEP offers free and impartial advice to potential boiler customers and wood fuel suppliers.

For further information on the CCWEP’s ‘Guide to Wood Boiler Installation’ call 061–361144 or visit www.ccwep.ie.

-ENDS-

Note To Editor:
- Doirin Graham, CEO, Rural Resource Development and County Clare Wood Energy Project is available for interview. To arrange please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations at 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com