Wood Fuel Quality Scheme
Around 70 people attended the wood chip quality workshop at AFBI Hillsborough. IrBEA Executive Noel Gavigan provided a detailed insight into how the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme (WFQA) works, including standards, audits, compliance requirements and costs as well as providing a vivid demonstration of how to determine chip size when sampling. WFQA member Kenny McCauley (McCauley Wood Fuels) gave a suppliers view including numerous illustrations and tips on how to maximise benefits from the scheme. There is strong interest in NI in the WFQA as an industry standard and this was clear from a presentation by DETI official Seamus Hughes. DETI's intention is to examine the practicalities of introducing a similar scheme possibly including recognition of quality schemes such as the WFQA alongside the Biomass Suppliers List (BSL) - a sustainability standard used for assessing fuel eligibility for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments in Great Britain.
Chris Johnston(AFBI) presented findings on wood fuel characteristics and performance used at the institute - of interest to developers – and Cathal Ellis outlined requirements for supply, by competitive tender, of wood chip to CAFRE Greenmount. At the end of the event Chris Johnston conducted a well attended tour of the AFBI Environment and Renewable Energy Centre where efficient biomass heat generation and distribution is demonstrated as a practical model for enterprises in Northern Ireland and beyond.
….”The AFBI/CAFRE wood chip quality event had a good balance between theoretical and practical information on quality standards, the views of policy makers and chip buyers and analysis of fuel characteristics and performance.”
Irish Bioenergy Association - an all-Island association promoting and developing the important bioenergy sector.