2/10/03 Irish wood and straw energy market to be worth €1 billion by 2020
Media Information 10th July 2003
Irish wood and straw energy market to be worth €1 billion by 2020
The Irish wood and straw energy market in Ireland has the potential to create over 30,000 jobs, and become a €1 billion industry by 2020. That is according to Paul Kellett of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Renewable Energy Information Office who was speaking on the first day of a major national conference on wood energy in Ireland.
Entitled ‘White Coal Green Energy – Wood Energy 2003 Conference‘, the two-day conference is taking place today and tomorrow (10th and 11th July respectively) at Johnstown Castle, Wexford. It is being organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland and COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development).
Paul Kellett, Technical Manager – REIO, said: “Ireland has the potential to develop an indigenous fuel supply from forestry and wood industry waste for domestic, industrial and export markets. Wood fuel, and in particular wood pellets and wood chips are highly efficient sources of clean, renewable energy. Pellets are already available in the Irish market place and we believe that wood could play a vital role in diversifying Ireland’s future energy mix. Despite the fact that Ireland has the best growing conditions for a range of tree species in Europe, we have been slow to develop the potential in terms of energy production. However, that is about to change. “
The two-day conference will focus on realising the vast potential in forestry residues and wood industry waste. Topics to be covered during the two-day event include wood pellet technology, pellet distribution, wood heating and combined heat and power (CHP) production.
Leading technology experts from Ireland, Austria, France, Scandanavia and the Netherlands will share their expertise and experiences in developing wood energy markets. Delegates will learn first hand of the vast potential wood offers the Irish entrepreneur, turning waste wood, wood residue and even sawdust into valuable wood pellets and wood chips for heat and power.
Discussion sessions will allow delegates to explore how to develop wood energy projects. The event will be a valuable networking forum for wood resource owners, technology suppliers, policy makers and regulators, energy consumers, energy generators and entrepreneurs.
Mr. Kellett said, “The development of a wood energy industry could play a significant role in rural regeneration. Developing local wood heating businesses will create thousands of jobs and put millions of euro back into rural economies. In the future it is possible that every town in Ireland could have a wood power plant – managed and maintained with local labour and powered by locally grown wood, and locally produced wood pellets and chips.”
The first wood pellet plant on the island of Ireland will start production at Balcas, Enniskillen in 2004. Ireland is a prime potential market for wood energy technology providers who are actively seeking partnerships with Irish companies to supply wood stoves, boilers and larger-scale power plants.
Mr Joe O’Carroll, Operations Manager, COFORD stated: “Utilising all available wood biomass in Ireland, we could immediately generate 50 MW of energy output. This potential rises rapidly so that by 2010 almost 150 MW could be produced by the many forms of wood biomass. There is huge market potential for convenient, refined fuels such as pellets. Wood in this form has many advantages in that it is more compact, clean, easy to store and has a very high energy content. Our aim is that this event should stimulate the development of wood biomass for the generation of heat and power by showcasing best practice European examples and highlighting the opportunities that exist in developing Irish markets.”
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was established on May 1st 2002, as a statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy. SEI is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000 – 2006 with programmes part-financed by the European Union.
The Renewable Energy Information Office (REIO) is a national service of Sustainable Energy Ireland, established to promote the use of renewable energy resources and provide independent advice and information on financial, social and technical issues relating to renewable energy development.
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For further information please contact:
Paul Dykes (Marketing Manager)
Sustainable Energy Ireland, Renewable Energy Information Office, Shinagh House, Bandon, Co Cork. T023 29146 E renewables@reio.ie W www.sei.ie/reio.htm & www.coford.ie/woodenergy2003.html
Delegates can book online www.sei.ie/reio/reioconfshop.html
Editors Notes:
About COFORD
COFORD, the National Council for Forest Research and Development coordinates and funds research to secure long-term industrial viability and optimise social, environmental and cultural developments associated with forestry. Supported under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 it also engages in international networking and monitors progress to ensure effective technology transfer.
