South West beauty spots team up to cut carbon emissions and revitalise local economy

10 of the 14 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks in the South West have joined forces in a pioneering partnership designed to reduce carbon emissions and revitalise the local economy in the region. They have been working over the last year with the Bristol-based charity the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to promote woodfuel as a low-carbon and local renewable energy source throughout the South West.

[UKPRwire, Sat Dec 08 2007] 10 of the 14 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks in the South West have joined forces in a pioneering partnership designed to reduce carbon emissions and revitalise the local economy in the region. They have been working over the last year with the Bristol-based charity the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to promote woodfuel as a low-carbon and local renewable energy source throughout the South West.

The outcome is the Coordinated Woodfuel Initiative, an innovative service managed by CSE which provides free phone advice, on-site technical expertise and help with funding for individuals or organisations in the South West who are considering installing woodfuel heating on their premises. The scheme has already advised more than 500 people throughout the region and has had significant environmental benefits. By the end of the programme in March 2008, 25 installations will be in place through the scheme, reducing local CO2 emissions by some 850 tonnes a year.

The AONBs themselves have invested substantially in the scheme. So far, through the Coordinated Woodfuel Initiative, they have allocated nearly £90,000 from their Sustainable Development Funds towards 12 modern highly efficient woodfuel heating installations, which would not have happened without their support. Sites that have benefited from their funding include schools, youth centres, a business incubator and outdoor education centres. In most cases they have replaced old inefficient oil-fired systems.

Local woodland areas directly benefit from a growing woodfuel industry, as this stimulates sustainable woodland management and supports rural livelihoods. Together these 12 installations have created an additional demand for more than 300 tonnes of local and sustainably sourced wood per year.

David Dixon from the South West Protected Landscape Forum said:

“This is just the beginning. The South West has a wealth of woodland areas that could benefit from a scheme like this. Woodfuels such as chips, pellets, briquettes and seasoned logs are marketable by-products from sustainable forestry management. It’s good for biodiversity, the climate and the local economy.”

Dr David Clubb from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) said:

“CWI is the first scheme of its nature in the UK to provide a free, independent and coordinated advice and support service on wood fuel heating across an entire region. By bringing together the AONBs and National Parks it has demonstrated the strength of acting in concert to provide far greater benefits than could be obtained by acting independently.”

The Coordinated Woodfuel Initiative offers free advice on their dedicated local rate phone line 08450 74 06 74 for homes, businesses, schools and community buildings across the South West. All callers receive an information pack to help them assess the suitability of their property for modern woodfuel heating. Some larger premises may be eligible for a site visit from an independent expert advisor. More information is available here: http://www.cse.org.uk/pdf/sof1116.pdf

ENDS

Notes:
1. For further information or images please contact Andreea Petre-Goncalves, Press Officer on 0117 9341427 or andreea@cse.org.uk or Dave Clubb, the CWI Project Manger on 0117 9341418 or david.clubb@cse.org.uk

2. The Co-ordinated Woodfuel Initiative is managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy. It is funded by the South West Regional Development Agency through the Woodland Renaissance (www.silvanus.org.uk/woodland_renaissance.php) matched with contributions from Sustainable Development Funds from 10 of the region’s Protected Landscapes and a contribution from the Forestry Commission.

3. The Protected Landscapes areas involved are Dartmoor National Park and the AONBs of North Devon, East Devon, South Devon, Blackdown Hills, Tamar Valley, Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs, Dorset, Mendip Hills and Quantock Hills

4. Energy from biomass refers to energy produced from organic matter of recent origin. This includes both wood-based materials (raw timber, forestry thinnings, untreated wood products, energy crops and short rotation coppice), and non-woody materials (animal waste and food-processing by-products) but excludes fossil fuels which are organic in origin but which have taken millions of years to form.

Types of wood-based products used in biomass heating include logs, wood chips, wood pellets and wood briquettes.

The generation of energy through the burning of wood-based biomass is considered a low carbon process because the carbon dioxide released by the burning is balanced by that absorbed by trees during their lifetime.

Biomass can contribute to waste management by harnessing energy from products that are often disposed of at landfill sites. It is most cost effective when a local fuel source is used and transportation costs and energy are minimised.

People have been producing energy from biomass for centuries, and in many parts of the world it is still the principle source of heat. However, modern biomass systems are far more efficient and far cleaner than the traditional open fire and are at the forefront of renewable energy technology.