About Usewoodfuel Scotland

About Usewoodfuel Scotland

Scottish Forestry and the Scottish Government are keen to continue to support the development of the biomass sector as part of meeting wider renewable heat objectives.

Wood fuel is the largest and most mainstream of the technologies contributing towards the renewable heat target. However, there is still considerable work to be done if the Scottish Government’s renewable heat target of 11% is to be delivered by 2020 and it is likely that wood fuel will be the principle technology to contribute to the target.  We therefore recognise that there is an ongoing need to support industry and to maintain a reliable source of key information on biomass wood fuel to support the development of local heat markets and biomass supply chains.

Scope of Wood Fuel Support Services in 2017:

  • Refresh the www.usewoodfuel.co.uk website to provide the most relevant, up to date information on all aspects of wood fuel supply and installation.
  • Develop new case studies focused on the key topics that create successful wood fuel installations and pitfalls to avoid.
  • Deliver an enquiries service which can draw on the wide breadth of expertise of the re:heat (anchor to section below) team.
  • Prepare monthly e-newsletters with the latest news, topical features and industry input.
  • Organise industry stakeholder meetings to share best practice, market developments and upcoming changes to funding and regulation.

Delivery of Usewoodfuel from July 2017

Re:heat was successful in winning the contract to run the Wood Fuel Support Service on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland from July 2017. Re:heat has a team of dedicated biomass specialists with over a decade of experience of developing biomass supply chains and installing low carbon heat and power systems to bring to the Wood Fuel Support Service project.

History of Usewoodfuel

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and the Scottish Government have led support for the wood fuel sector for a number of years. Usewoodfuel Scotland was originally created by Forestry Commission Scotland as part of a package of work delivered under the Regional Biomass Advice Network (RBAN) project which ran from 2008 to 2011.  The overall objective of the programme was to bring about a vibrant, sustainable and viable biomass industry in Scotland. RBAN was a partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Government, Glasgow Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership, Scottish Enterprise, the Biomass Energy Centre and Forest Research, and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The project helped establish a solid foundation for development of the sector and the RBAN’s activities encouraged the installation of biomass boilers and to develop the wood fuel supply chain.

The legacy of the RBAN project includes:

  • RBAN Biomass Development Officers developed active Regional Woodfuel Forums and the
  • Development of the usewoodfuel website to facilitate the provision of a wide range information and advice to stakeholders and to signpost users to other key sources of information.
  • A series of informative events and discussions were held across Scotland.
  • A Regional Woodfuel Forum was set up in each area of Scotland by the RBAN Biomass Development Officers, and in some areas these continue to provide networking opportunities and knowledge exchange to help the wood fuel industry to become established.