Benefits of wood energy for fuel users
Wood energy brings many benefits to both private and commercial users. It can be used in both new buildings and also fitted to existing systems. Large-heat users, such as hospitals, care homes, leisure centres, schools, and so on can benefit particularly from wood chip heating systems. However, private homes can also take advantage of wood energy by installing a single wood chip boiler through a heat network.
The benefits to converting to wood energy to the fuel user include much lower fuel costs; stable priced fuel over the long term; massively reduced C02 emissions; and fuel supplied locally from sustainable supplies.
Benefits of wood energy for fuel providers
For fuel providers, wood energy can provide a range of benefits. For example, the economic returns are typically spread across the supply chain and bring additional income to:
forest owners – who will gain a new market for forest thinnings- forest contracts, since use of wood energy means an increase in thinnings contracts from the private sector
- haulage companies – who will transport the fuel supply from source to end user
- plumbers/engineering/electrician companies – who will install boilers and provide fuel storage (e.g. fuel silos, bunkers, handling systems).
