Supply options
Fuel supply is essential to the reliable and efficient operation
of biomass boilers. The fuel properties must be accurately
known and available to the customer and must be appropriate for the
energy conversion system to be used. The majority of biomass
systems have a very specific range of fuel requirements if they are
to operate efficiently, with low levels of emissions and without
blockage of the fuel feed system
Sources of supply
If you are interested in producing woodfuel, you may have access
to various sources of raw materials which have the potential to be
turned into wood energy. Wood for energy comes from a range of
sources including traditional forestry material, energy crops,
timber co-products, recycled wood and waste wood. Currently most of
woodfuel is sourced from within Scotland with only a small amount
of imported pellets. The type of raw material will influence the
type and quality of product that can be produced. The table below
summarises the potential flow of material, further
information upon available raw materials for woodfuel can
be found at sources of
supply.
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CONTACTS
Around half the timber produced in Scotland is produced by
Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and around half by
the private sector, totalling around 6 million m3 of timber per
year. Production could increase to around 10 million m3 of timber
per year over the next 10 to 15 years, with most of the addition
potential volume in the private sector.
The national forest estate is managed by Forest Enterprise
Scotland (FES), which is part of FCS. Over one third of FES
annual production is sold on the open market. Since mid 2004 the
majority of these sales have been conducted electronically through
the FC
website. Contact details for your local Forest
District can also be found on the FCS website.
The
Confederation of Forest Industries
(ConFor) is the main industry body for private sector
forestry. ConFor's remit covers all parts of the industry supply
chain, from timber growers, through to harvesters, sawmills and
other processors.
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Supply chain options
Supply chains can be developed in various of ways depending on a
number of factors:
- Available markets will determine product type and
volume, e.g through market research to determine grade of woodchips
required.
- Available resource will determine which products
can be supplied as outlined above.
- Harvesting systems will depend on the timber
resource, available equipment, ground conditions and the end
product.
- Drying and processing can be carried out on site
or transported to a central processing site. Transport, storage and
processing options will depend on available vehicles and distances,
type of storage facilities, drying and chipping equipment and the
end product.
- Delivery may depend on the customers storage
facilities, i.e. a hopper may need a high-lift tipper or a bulk bag
lifted by crane. Delivery options include loose logs, logs in net
bags, loose chips or bulk bags of chips; pellets in plastic sacks
or in bulk loads.
The wood fuel supply chain covers a large range of industries
including: forestry; farming; timber processing; machinery and
equipment manufacturers and dealers. To develop a robust woodfuel
industry, those in the supply chain need links with the heating
equipment manufacturers, suppliers and installers; energy supply
companies; consultants; transport and advisory and grant-awarding
bodies. The increased use of woodfuel in Scotland depends on all
these elements being accessible. The development of clusters of
these resources across Scotland will aid the development of the
woodfuel.