UK Forestry Commission Outlines Biomass Action Plan

The UK Forestry Commission has published its woodfuel strategy for England, which outlines plans to boost the supply of environment-friendly woodfuel to cut greenhouse gases and produce enough energy to power 250,000 homes.

The plan, which was unveiled by UK biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner, aims to boost the woodfuel market with an extra two million tons of wood a year by 2020, saving 400,000 tons of carbon annually, which is the equivalent of taking 550,000 cars off the road.

In a press release, the Forestry Commission said that biomass such as woodfuel currently supplies 3% of the UK’s total energy. The Forestry Commission’s strategy proposes increasing this percentage through the provision of capital investment and technical advice. The proposal also looks at tackling the supply chain, highlighting the need to find new ways to engage with the estimated 50-80,000 owners of woodland in England.

Forestry Commission chairman Lord Clark of Windermere, said: “Using wood to substitute for fossil fuels means that well managed woodland can help to combat climate change.”

The Forestry Commission will be working with delivery partners, including regional development agencies, local authorities and private businesses, to produce a detailed implementation plan to support the strategy.