Bioenergy opportunities help Scotland's forestry sector
Unprecedented levels of new investment, the new opportunities brought by bioenergy, and the ability of wood processors to fight off fierce global competition is a 'major success story' for the timber industry in Scotland announced Environment Minister Michael Russell during a parliamentary debate.
In the last two years alone, investment in new wood processing projects has amounted to £250 million which is helping to develop a number of new sawmills and major biomass energy projects around the country. Over 40,000 jobs are now supported by the forestry sector in Scotland and the industry generates around £760 million each year to the economy. Speaking at a forestry debate in the Scottish Parliament, Russell highlighted that Scottish Government support for the forestry sector was also at record levels.
Energy company E.ON is in the final stages of the construction of the UK's largest bioenergy plant, located in Steven's Croft, Scotland (previous post). Farmers in southern Scotland have become aware of the bright prospects for bioenergy and have begun turning over large slices of their land to growing willow, a short rotation coppice energy crop. But other forestry resources will be tapped as well.
The new biomass project is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. The £90 (€133/US$178) million E.ON facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. It will be capable of performing the following tasks:
energy :: sustainability :: biofuels :: bioenergy :: renewables :: forestry :: timber :: biomass :: Scotland ::
The new task force will consider ways of bringing forward supplies from currently under-utilised sources such as forest residues, short rotation coppice and under-managed woodlands. It will also consider the impact of increased demand for wood fuel on the future balance between supply and demand within the wood processing sector. The task force will be led by Forestry Commission Scotland and will include representatives from the renewable energy, wood processing and land management sectors.
According to the minister, forestry is an integral part of sustainable rural development. It creates employment, makes great use of a natural renewable resource, contributes to the local and national economy and supports community cohesion. This is why the Scottish Government is committed to helping this sector realise its full potential, firmly establishing Scotland at the heart of UK forestry.
References:
Great Britain Forestry Commission: Timber on a High - February 7, 2008.
Biopact: UK's largest biomass plant approved, biomass task force created - June 16, 2007
In the last two years alone, investment in new wood processing projects has amounted to £250 million which is helping to develop a number of new sawmills and major biomass energy projects around the country. Over 40,000 jobs are now supported by the forestry sector in Scotland and the industry generates around £760 million each year to the economy. Speaking at a forestry debate in the Scottish Parliament, Russell highlighted that Scottish Government support for the forestry sector was also at record levels.
The unprecedented levels of investment in the processing and wood utilisation sector can only be described as a major success story. Our processors have fought off fierce global competition and managed to remain profitable through a period of historically low timber prices. This is testament to the industry's business acumen and its ability to adapt and innovate. - Michael Russell, Scotland's Environment MinisterIn 1970 just under three quarters of a million cubic metres of timber were produced in Scotland, mainly from the national forest estate. In 2007, Scotland's forests produced 6.6. million cubic metres, more than half from the private sector.
In fact, our forests currently produce some 6.6 million cubic metres of softwood round timber each year and this is set to rise to nearly 9 million cubic metres by 2016. An interesting analysis of statistics suggest that timber consumption is now running at 6.5 million cubic metres a year which could demonstrate that Scotland is currently self sufficient in wood related material. However, it is also important to realise that Scotland makes a key contribution to the UK’s timber needs, helping it to reduce its global carbon footprint. - Michael RussellThe Scottish Government is providing strong support for the sector with £269 million being allocated to forestry measures through the Scottish Rural Development Programme. This funding will act as a catalyst for new planting, enabling the sector to plant around 10,000 hectares each year. This growth in planting will also help our aspiration of expanding woodland cover to 25 per cent of Scotland's land area this century.
The emergence of the bioenergy sector also represents a huge opportunity for Scotland's forests and woodlands. The Scottish Biomass Support Scheme has been well subscribed, and 67 new projects worth £17 million will come on stream this year, assisted by £7.5 million of Scottish Government funding. - Michael RussellThe Scottish Biomass Support Scheme gives grants to business to encourage the use of alternative and renewable resources to conventional oil and gas fired equipment, for the generation of heat and power in domestic and industrial processes.
Energy company E.ON is in the final stages of the construction of the UK's largest bioenergy plant, located in Steven's Croft, Scotland (previous post). Farmers in southern Scotland have become aware of the bright prospects for bioenergy and have begun turning over large slices of their land to growing willow, a short rotation coppice energy crop. But other forestry resources will be tapped as well.
The new biomass project is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. The £90 (€133/US$178) million E.ON facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. It will be capable of performing the following tasks:
energy :: sustainability :: biofuels :: bioenergy :: renewables :: forestry :: timber :: biomass :: Scotland ::
- generating enough electricity to power 70,000 homes
- providing over 300 jobs in the forestry and energy farming sector
- displacing the emission of 140,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year
The new task force will consider ways of bringing forward supplies from currently under-utilised sources such as forest residues, short rotation coppice and under-managed woodlands. It will also consider the impact of increased demand for wood fuel on the future balance between supply and demand within the wood processing sector. The task force will be led by Forestry Commission Scotland and will include representatives from the renewable energy, wood processing and land management sectors.
According to the minister, forestry is an integral part of sustainable rural development. It creates employment, makes great use of a natural renewable resource, contributes to the local and national economy and supports community cohesion. This is why the Scottish Government is committed to helping this sector realise its full potential, firmly establishing Scotland at the heart of UK forestry.
References:
Great Britain Forestry Commission: Timber on a High - February 7, 2008.
Biopact: UK's largest biomass plant approved, biomass task force created - June 16, 2007
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