Wood Energy

Here in the West Midlands our Regional Forestry Framework already sets a high priority for Wood Energy and the delivery plan outlines a range of actions.

Key players on this topic constantly review current policy and action on Wood Energy in the West Midlands, considering the opportunities.  Accordingly a Task and Finish Group was originally formed under the auspices of the Regional Woodland and Forestry Forum.

See the summary of the West Midlands Regional Wood Energy Stratey in .pdf format (588k).

Recently it has helped steer the development of the Heartwoods Woodfuel project and has now formalised this process so Heartwoods now acts as the focus for woodfuel in the region through its own activities and contacts through woodfuel champions, networks and the Woodland & Forestry Forum

Heartwoods Fuel Project Steering Group Meeting Notes

NEW: the Woodfuel Update: March 2010

the Woodfuel Update: September 2009

See also previous updates
the Woodfuel Update: December 2009
the Woodfuel Update: June 2009
the Woodfuel Update: February 2009
the Woodfuel Update: June 2008
the Woodfuel Update: June 2007
 

The woodfuel supply chain - Sharing experience
A major international conference organised by the Biomass Energy Centre in conjunction with IEA Bioenergy Tasks 31, 38 and 40 was held on 14-19th September 2008 - University of Warwick Campus, Coventry, UK.  This Workshop presented shared experience of the development of the woodfuel supply chain in England and elsewhere, problems overcome, milestones achieved and hurdles yet to be overcome.
  

See the England Woodfuel Strategy, launched on 28 March 2007 at: www.forestry.gov.uk/england-woodfuel

See the Review of the West Midlands Regional Wood Energy Strategy 2006

Meetings:
(All notes are in Word format unless specified otherwise)

Minutes of the joint meeting with Woodland and Forest Industries Task Group – Heartwoods Steering Group – December 2009
Minutes of joint meeting with Woodland and Forest Industries Task Group – 14th July 2009 (.pdf format)
Notes of meeting 3rd July 2008
Minutes of joint meeting with Woodland & Forest Industry TG to discuss Draft of the Woodfuel Supply Chain Project Application for RDPE Axis 1 Environmental Technologies - March 2008
Notes of meeting 27th November 2007 (.pdf)
Note of Meeting 17 July 2007
Note of Meeting 12 October 2006
Agenda of Meeting 6 March 2007 (nb - no notes taken)
Note of Meeting 28 September 2005
Note of Meeting 12 April 2005
Note of Meeting 07 December 2004
Note of Meeting 07 September 2004
Note of Meeting 12 March 2004

 

Useful Links for Wood Energy
Heartwoods project
Within the site you will be able to access information on all your Timber requirements, from buying or selling timber, to commissioning a sculpture, to buying Christmas presents such as trugs for the keen gardener in your family. You will also find information on Woodfuel, Deer Initiatives, and Events around the county plus links to other forestry related organisations.

BioenergyWM
Bioenergy West Midlands has been established by Advantage West Midlands, Harper Adams University College, Defra, and the Government Office for the West Midlands to assist in the development of a dedicated regional bioenergy supply chain.

biomass energy centre
The BEC aims to draw together information from existing sources into one easy to use service based around this website and an information enquiry service. The website focuses on the various biomass fuel types that are commercially available or being researched. It provides basic information on fuel processing and supply chains, currently with an emphasis on woodfuel and heat production.

Marches Wood Energy Network
Midlands Wood Fuel provides a green heating solution to householders, organisations and businesses  who require low running costs and the convenience and efficiency of a modern appliance.

Forest Research: Woodfuel Resource
Study into the potentially available woodfuel resource of Great Britain. This site details the background, aims and methods used in a study of the potentially available Woodfuel Resource in Great Britain, and presents the findings in an interactive manner. This enables users to request the data they are interested in by geographic region, type of woodfuel resource and by various classes of resource.

Forest Research: Measurement and modelling of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC)
Information about short rotation coppice for growers, researchers and the bio-energy industry