Biomass would save business millions, conference told

The promotion of wood energy as a viable alternative energy source for Irish industry, public bodies and consumers must be a key objective to meet Kyoto targets, a conference heard today.

The claim was made by Joe O'Carroll of COFORD, the National Council for Forest Research and Development, at the Wood Energy 2004 conference taking place in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork.

Mr O’Carroll said: "The development of a wood fuel industry which is adequately supported by an appropriate regulatory and policy environment would have major economic and strategic benefits for Ireland, replacing our overdependence on imported fossil fuels while creating sustainable rural jobs, in addition to its primary purpose of reducing CO2 emissions."

This view was furthered by David Taylor, CEO of Sustainable Energy Ireland. He said: "Recent studies have shown the cost/benefit of forest enterprise to the state will be enhanced where the carbon storage value is recognised and where forestry and sawmilling residues can substitute for fossil fuel energy."

The Department of Natural Resources has established an interdepartmental group, the Bioenergy Strategy Group, to make recommendations on how the Government can realise the potential of wood biomass (wood chip, sawdust, bark and wood pellets) to contribute to renewable energy and emission reduction.

Worldwide wood currently supplies about 15% of the world’s energy demand and, despite the vast potential, Ireland’s contribution is less than 1%.

Conor Casey, an energy consultant, said the Irish hospitality sector could also make energy savings on its energy bill of €21m, if large hotels and accommodation centres invested in Biomass technology.

COFORD is launching a new website during Wood Energy 2004, www.woodenergy.ie, dedicated to providing information on using wood biomass as an energy source.