Very positive response to Forest Energy demonstrations

Over 1200 farmers attended the series of Forest Energy demonstrations organised jointly by Teagasc, COFORD and Waterford Institute of Technology. Teagasc staff reported that farmers came from all corners of the country to see specialized wood-chipping equipment in action. Three types of wood-chippers were brought in from Denmark to see how they performed under Irish conditions.

The demonstrations were held in Frenchpark Co. Roscommon, Timahoe Co. Laois, Piltown Co Kilkenny, Kilbrin Co. Cork and the final demonstration which was held in Boora, Co. Offaly was attended by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mary Wallace.

In an earlier series of demonstrations held last March, trees were felled using specialized wood energy equipment and left to dry in the forest. The seasoned timber was then chipped to produce a variety of categories of wood chip. The moisture content of both the green timber and the seasoned timber were recorded and will be analysed by WIT.

The clear message emerging from the demonstrations was that the quality/size and the moisture content of the wood-chips are hugely important and must be suited to the boiler in which they will be burnt.

"The smaller the boiler, the smaller the chip must be and the lower the moisture content" said Mary Ryan, Acting Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Unit.

Teagasc forestry adviser in Mullingar, Liam Kelly said that farmers' interests ranged from seeing thinning and harvesting in action, to becoming involved in the supply chain for wood chips. Many farmers are examining the possibility of getting involved in the chipping business themselves. There was also considerable interest from harvesting contractors who recognize that this is a rapidly growing market.

Steven Meyen, Teagasc forestry adviser in Donegal, said "first thinning is now a more attractive prospect as the emerging wood energy market presents an opportunity for farmers to sell pulpwood from thinnings locally, rather than paying the haulage cost of transporting pulpwood to the panel mills in the South East."

The Greener Homes and Bioheat wood chip and wood pellet boiler grant programmes have generated a huge surge in interest in using renewable wood heating at a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels. Now is the time for farmers to cash in on their forests and seize the wood energy opportunity.