Wood fuel quality assurance scheme launched at bioenergy conference

A NEW quality assurance scheme for wood fuel products has been formed by a peer-nominated oversight committee.

The Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme in Ireland was launched at the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) /Teagasc annual bioenergy conference at the Tipperary Institute in Thurles.

It has been formed in conjunction with key Government and non-governmental agencies and will provide wood fuel customers with confidence that they are purchasing a quality wood fuel from a sustainable source relevant to their needs.

The WFQA scheme will certify Irish organisations involved in the manufacture and supply of quality logs, chips, pellets and briquettes formed from clean wood.

Wood fuel as an industry has grown significantly over the past five years, reaching households, commercial premises, Government organisations and industrial operations.

The current demand is estimated to be 30,000 tonnes of wood pellets and 75,000 tonnes of wood chips annually.

This largely indigenous industry provides sustainable fuel for heating and electricity and is a significant employer, especially in rural areas.

Organisations achieving certification under WFQA will retain responsibility for the product quality until the point of purchase at each stage in the process.

The main objectives of the scheme are to instil and maintain confidence in the marketplace and ensure best practice operations throughout the wood fuel supply sector and the continued production of sustainable wood fuel throughout Ireland.

An oversight committee made up of IrBEA, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Sustainable Energy Ireland and key industry representatives, will meet regularly to oversee the operation of the scheme.

After an initial 12-month period, an election will take place at the scheme’s annual general meeting.

Oversight committee chairman John O’Brien said the development of this scheme by key players, with the support of the sector at large, demonstrates the commitment within the sector to delivery a quality product for the end user.

The core objective in developing and implementing this scheme is to support the delivery of a quality product to the customer every time, he explained.

“Organisations who are certified under the WFQA scheme will, I believe, become the customers’ ‘suppliers of choice’ going forward,” he said.