1. UK Woodfuel Suppliers Group “Immediate priorities for the UK wood fuel supply chain” At EBEC Wednesday 5 th October 2011 Presentation by Robert Bland Chair of The Confor

2. Our Purpose The UK wood fuel Suppliers Group was formed earlier this year to represent and coordinate the views and interests of the many businesses scattered across the country, actively involved in the manufacture and distribution of wood fuel for use in heating to end users across the UK.

3. Current and Potential Members We have 20-25 paid up members in the UK Manufacturing, storing and delivering in bulk woodchips, wood pellets and logs to an increasing number and range of end users. New industries’ Customers already include district housing schemes, schools and colleges, public buildings, hospitals, offices, care homes, glasshouses, poultry farms to name a few. With the 2 nd wave of RHI due in 2012, we will add individual households.

4. Before installing your boiler… Contact your local supplier ! The following aspects of wood fuel supply can have a major impact on the long term costs of converting to wood fuel: Wood fuel being blown, tipped or delivered in hook lift bins. Distances from your nearest depot. They can help with a cost effective practical designs of the wood fuel hopper/silo and access to it…..very important! You may well need time to ensure that the supplier has sufficient dry timber to meet your system’s needs. We believe a fixed term supply contract is in the best interests of both parties. Talk to him as soon as you can! You can find a list of wood fuel suppliers in your area on the Biomass Energy Centre website which is hosted by the Forestry Commission.

5. Take care in selecting your supplier This new borne industry’s reputation is very much at stake. “Doing it right”, is more often than not “easier said than done” care should be taken in selecting a supplier who “can do it right” reliably and regularly.

6. Ensuring that Wood Chip is Delivered Consistently It is vitally important that wood fuel, whatever the format, is consistently manufactured, handled and delivered to exacting preset and demanding standards. For example… Chip being delivered at the correct moisture content depending on the boiler. This has an impact on the boiler efficiency and running costs. Minimizing dust content in blown deliveries. What species of defines a hardwood log? Members of the WSG must be able to demonstrate they are credible and creditable partners you can rely on. I am confident we can do it.

7. Educating the customer- Is burning trees bad for the environment? I believe many people outside the industry are afraid that our woodlands will be at risk from the increase in demand for wood biomass as the RHI is implemented. There remains much work to be done in explaining to the nation the confusing facts of carbon reduction arising from “burning locally grown trees”. Suffice to say… The majority of UK woodland and forestry would benefit from much needed thinning and by law “clear felling licenses” are not granted by the F C unless new replacement trees (which will absorb carbon unlike older trees) are planted. The Forestry Commision’s new wood fuel Implementation Plan will bring more woods into financially sustainable management. Members will need to demonstrate that their wood fuel has been sourced sustainably.

8. WSG The Group is admirably organized and coordinated by CONFOR (The Confederation of Forest Industry) and remains affiliated to the REA (The Renewable Energy Association). We are a new Group with much to do and much to achieve. We read with interest the carbon reduction targets put forward by the Government, related to the anticipated use of wood fuel over the coming years following the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive. The WSG are confident the existing infrastructure and pipeline is not only in position but well bedded in to deliver these volumes.

9. An example of a WSG member – Midlands Wood Fuel Ltd We are based in Shropshire but operate across the Midlands, Mid Wales and now the North West supplying bulk wood chip, wood pellet and some bespoke consultancy. We operate from 11 depots strategically located to be as close as possible to both our customers and our primary sources of green timber. This minimizes ever escalating transport costs and of course, our carbon footprint. The company has been trading for some 5/6 years and we are pleased to announce our 130 th new customer last month. Early this year, we were rewarded with the Ashden “Sustainable Energy Business Award” for 2011. Next year, our volumes will almost double and assuming a reasonable uptake from the RHI, we expect these volumes to at least double again the year after within our operating area. We will be buying timber before Xmas this year for supply to our customers as dry woodchip in October 2012.

10. Summary The wood fuel supply chain is currently well placed across the UK to supply the growing requirements of the anticipated surge in biomass boiler installations, resulting from the newly announced RHI. Please find your local supplier at an early stage and talk to him…..it could save you a great deal.