Wood pellets are renewable and sustainable
In energy terms, renewables are those forms of energy, generated from natural resources, which can be replenished naturally and sustainably. These include non-carbon technologies such as solar, hydro and wind power, as well as carbon-neutral technologies such as biomass. Wood is a form of solid biomass.
Wood is a carbon neutral fuel
Burning wood arguably produces no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions as the carbon dioxide released in its combustion is equivalent to that fixed by growth in trees during their lifetime. A similar amount of greenhouse gas would eventually be released if wood was left to rot in the open or buried in landfill. If sourced from sustainably managed forests, woodfuel is recognised as generating far lower net lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than fossil fuel equivalents such as coal, gas and oil; its use also helps reduce the UK's dependency on these dwindling resources.
Meeting renewable energy targets
Duffield Wood Pellets are proud to play a part in helping the UK Government meet its commitment to a target of 15% of UK energy coming from renewable sources by 2020, as presented in their
Renewable Energy Strategy; wood pellets have an important part to play in achieving this target. Throughout Europe, biomass is the most important source of renewable energy, primarily as a heat source. Unlike some renewable energy sources, wood pellets can be stored and their energy made available on-demand to the electricity grid making them the preferred low cost renewable energy option for co-fired and dedicated biomass power stations. Wood pellets are the only renewable fuel available in the short term to fill the gap that will be left when five of the seven UK nuclear power stations are decommissioned, before replacements become available.
Our policy and practices
By sourcing timber from local managed forestry sources to produce fuel to provide heat for consumers in our immediate geographical region we aim to keep the associated carbon mileage as low as possible. Typically, delivery of our wood pellets within our region will incur a total travelling distance of less than 70 miles from forestry source to customer store.
All timber accepted into stock is checked for FSC compliance or a valid felling licence. Our wood pellets have been awarded FSC certification, thereby ensuring they are CPET compliant, in line with UK Government timber purchasing guidelines.
Our wood fuel production provides local forestry and timber processing enterprise with an additional market outlet for low grade timber products such as chipwood and sawmill co-product. This in turn provides employment security and possible new job creation for local people.
In our region we are lucky to have a promising supply of woodland (some 92,000 hectares) with much of this being currently under-managed. Well managed and sustainably harvested these resources have the potential to generate renewable woodfuel stocks well into the future.
Forests are the world's lungs:
By regulating climate, water cycles and soil erosion they benefit our environment. Good forest management and regular replanting are vital for a healthy forest.
Trees have a natural lifecycle:
On reaching maturity they can be felled to make way for the next generation. Felled trees may be processed directly or converted at the sawmill and moved to timber yards.
Wood is a versatile resource:
Timber can be used to make a wide range of products; the untreated manufacturer and sawmill residues can be used, along with stemwood, in the production of wood pellets.
From forest to fuel:
Trees can be used to make a beautiful home and can also keep it warm, whilst the forest remains healthy - producing more trees for generations to come.
