Significant opportunity to deliver renewable heating solutions using solid biomass

Bioenergy is a reliable, proven and globally deployed renewable energy technology. In 2022, bioenergy accounted for 54% of EU renewable energy and avoided 300 million tons of CO2, writes Seán Finan, IrBEA CEO.

When bioenergy is combined with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technologies, it achieves negative emissions. Renewable heat deployment in Ireland is the lowest in the EU at 8%, compared to an EU average of 26%.

Role of the Irish Bioenergy Association and Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme

While the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) is the representative body for the sectors of biomass, biogas/biomethane, biofuels, biochar, wood fuels and energy crops, the focus of this article is on the opportunities within the solid (wood) biomass sector. Further details at www.irbea.org.

IrBEA manages and administers the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme which certifies the suppliers of wood fuel including woodchip, pellets, wood briquettes and firewood. Further details at www.wfqa.org.

The solid biomass indigenous resource

Solid biomass used for renewable heat is derived from sustainably managed forests, with woodchip and pellet generally used in industrial and commercial heating. In Ireland, the Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD) under the umbrella of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, forecasts that the Irish solid biomass resource will increase significantly over the next decade.

Solid biomass complements sustainable forest management

Forest-based biomass is complementary to sustainable forest management where the objective is to produce high quality timber for use in the construction sector as low embodied carbon building materials. Production of sawlog sized material involves practices such as thinning and the production of smaller size logs that have a number of markets, including for energy use, once existing board mill and other solid wood uses have been satisfied.

Established supply chain

Ireland has a well-established, modern and efficient network of forestry biomass contractors and an established nationwide network of woodchip suppliers with significant capacity for expansion of this network. In addition, Ireland also has significant skills, knowledge and capacity to design, install, operate and maintain biomass heating systems.

Sustainability and air quality

Solid biomass sustainability is strictly governed by the Renewable Energy Directive and sourced using sustainable forest management practices and techniques. Strict EU regulations exist regarding air emissions with the thermal input/output of the heating system determining which legislative instrument governs the specific emission and air quality standards.

Biomass financial models and supports for energy users

An energy supply contract (ESCO) is preferred by many heat users as it takes responsibility for fuelling, operating and maintaining the biomass heating system with the heat user paying for the units of heat delivered. For heat users, the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) is a 15-year SEAI administered operational support for biomass heating systems. There are several hundred biomass heating systems operating successfully across Ireland.

The IrBEA solid biomass capacity statement

IrBEA has launched a solid biomass capacity statement which demonstrates the capacity of the solid biomass sector to deliver decarbonised heating solutions using solid biomass. Further details are available at: www.irbea.org/sbc-statement

Seán Finan B.E., C.Eng., MIEI
Irish Bioenergy Association CEO
E: seanfinan@irbea