‘Bio-mass fuels targets need to be set’

OUR government must set energy targets for heating from bio-mass fuels, which would be greener and indigenously produced, the Wood Energy Association says.

Ireland has the highest dependence on imported energy of any OECD country, according to Waterford-based James Kennedy, chairman of the WEA.

The group was set up to promote the use of renewable energy from forestry, bio-mass crops and timber-processing by-products.

“This country is almost totally dependant on imported energy, 60% of which is supplied by oil,” said Mr Kennedy.

“Bio-mass currently delivers just 1% of Irish energy needs in the form of domestic and industrial wood heating. It has the potential to supply 10% very quickly, given sufficient government support.

“Bio-mass also has the potential to redirect over e1 billion to the Irish economy and to create over 4,000 new full-time jobs.

“We are calling on the government to set clear targets for fossil fuel reduction to be replaced by energy from bio-mass sources, including short-rotation forestry of 10% by 2010, 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2050,” said Mr Kennedy.

The Wood Energy Association is also urging the government to ensure that all public buildings are heated with renewable energy sources and, where possible, existing buildings switched from oil or gas heating.

The WEA also highlights the lack of grant support for the installation of wood and bio-mass boilers in the Republic, unlike in Northern Ireland, where grants of up to £100,000 (€146,000) have been made available for renewable energy installations.

In the North and in other parts of Britain, Clear Skies, the government-funded body which aims to give householders and communities a chance to realise the benefits of renewable energy by providing grants and access to sources of advice, processed grant applications for almost 7,000 households and offered funding to 345 community organisations up to September last.

It is also essential, according to the WEA, that capital grants are available for the purchase of processing equipment and energy crop harvesting machinery for farmers and the forest-industry sector.

In conclusion, the association says that a simple support system which could be introduced immediately would be the inclusion of short-rotation forestry such as willow trees planted for energy as well as other bio-mass energy crops in the existing forestry grant support scheme.