15/8/07

 New wood chip fuel store in Huntley, near Gloucester, will reduce ‘fuel miles’ for customers of this carbon neutral heating source.

 Today, visitors were given the chance to see the start of chipping operations at Gloucestershire Wood Fuels’ new depot in Huntley. 300 tonnes of locally sourced timber are being chipped and stored ready for delivery this winter. This is enough fuel to heat one large school for a year.

 John Baly of Gloucestershire Wood Fuels said “Now that we have our own specialist delivery vehicle, we can deliver whenever a customer requires.”

 Mr Jim Sauter of the Forestry Commission said “70 percent of woods in Gloucestershire are privately owned and if they can be offered a decent value for their thinnings, then there will be many more better managed woodlands”.

 Gloucestershire Wood Fuels Limited is a producer cooperative, with an established woodchip depot at Batsford. It has now established a second depot at Huntley, to supply new customers using a minimum of transport miles.

 Woodchip boilers provide a cheap source of heat, which justifies the higher installation costs in a number of situations. Paybacks can be justified verses oil or gas, particularly for larger installations. The added benefit of the carbon neutral status of the fuel source, can make a very attractive proposition with today’s building controls.

 The new depot is operated by Woodland Improvements and Conservation Ltd, who are one the cooperative members. They supply young trees to the trade and private customers with a very successful mail order business. A healthy wood fuel market will improve the viability of woodlands and help sales of new trees.

 Gloucestershire Wood Fuels was set up with the help of Severn Wye Energy Agency, who continue to provide a business administration service, including sales enquiries. Severn Wye Energy Agency is a registered charity that provides a range of services including energy efficiency and renewable energy advice to householders and consultancy services to businesses.

 For further information and high definition digital photographs contact:

Pete West of Severn Wye Energy Agency - 01594 546 453

John Baly of Woodland Improvements and Conservation – 01452 832 100.

Grants and installers for wood chip boilers can be reviewed at the Low Carbon Building Programme web site www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/

 Terms used

Wood chip fuel is a quality controlled product, with size and moisture limits, making it suitable for reliable fuel flow and efficient burning in boilers. It is regarded as carbon neutral because, within our lifetime, the cycle of new tree growth will absorb the carbon that is released by burning the chips.