Forest Engineering Group

Autumn SymposiumSept 2009Presentation by Fergus Tickell

Managing Director

Northern Energy Developments Ltd

Potential Energy Sources from Forest Land – Growing

Renewables

Forest Related Renewables

Wind Hydro Biomass

Policy Context

Environment Climate change Electricity generation

targets Heat production Transport

Forestry Scottish Forestry

Strategy Existing and growing

resource Local utilisation Improved resource

efficiency Woodland expansion

Policy Context (cont.)

Sustainable Development Employment Business development Local add value

Renewable Energy Renewables Obligation Banding for biomass Feed in Tariffs Renewable Heat

Incentive Distributed power Base load supply

Project Development Strategic Context

Location Close to the resource Distant from existing

markets Off gas so local heat

market

Scale Matched to sustainable

local timber supply Creation of robust supply

chains Grid connection to

distribution network ‘Off the shelf’ equipment

Achnabreck, Lochgilphead

Achnabreck, Lochgilphead

Achnabreck (cont.)

Site Characteristics FC owned Preferred planning status in Local Plan Connected to 20000 hectares of forest by forest

road Environmental brownfield site Potential to develop adjacent heat demand

Achnabreck (cont.)

Proposed Project Details Technology – combustion 60000 (wet) tonnes per year sourced from radius

of 50km from site Woodfuel made up of material not suitable for

existing markets, SRW, other sources of clean wood

5MW electrical capacity – 45000MWh per year Establish wood refinery to energise local heat

market

What Now?

Consistent policy and support mechanisms Grid access Development of mature multi-scale markets Development of supply chains Silvicultural rejuvenation R&D