Teagasc Launch New Wood Energy Booklet

A new guide "Wood Energy from Farm Forests -a basic guide" was officially launched, today Wednesday 21 June, by Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food, at the Teagasc Agriculture and Food 06 event in Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny.

This guide, prepared by the Teagasc Forestry Development Unit, outlines the opportunities for farmers to become wood fuel growers. It details the support systems available to farmers in establishing a forestry plantation and outlines the market opportunities for the different types of wood fuels like wood pellets, wood briquettes, wood chips and firewood.

The new grants under the Greener Homes Schemes, which encourage the use of wood fuels in domestic and business heating systems, are also included in the publication.

Acting Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Unit, Mary Ryan said: "The use of wood to provide heat has great potential in Ireland and is a real and secure opportunity for land owners. Farmers are very well positioned to benefit, both as growers of energy wood and as users of cost effective wood energy. Ireland's soil and climatic conditions are excellent for timber growth."

The complete booklet is available to download Acrobat PDF (1.2Mb) format.