The Irish Bioenergy Association publishes guide to Specified Biomass Harvesting

In Ireland, the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) has published a guide to Specified Biomass Harvesting (SBH) as part of sustainable forest management. 

Noel Gavigan, IrBEA Technical Executive and co-author of the report said: “As a biomass fuel, SBH displaces fossil fuels with significant greenhouse gas savings. This is achieved through fossil displacement and avoidance of emissions from decaying residues on site. Where SBH is harvested reforestation costs can be lowered and regeneration is more uniform.”

The entity also noted that SBH has the potential to provide a significant amount of renewable fuel while facilitating regeneration and closing the forest cycle.

Eugene Hendrick, chairman of the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) said: “Irish foresters and forest owners, and those involved in forest certification now have the guidance to hand to enable sustainable harvest of an additional forest energy assortment through SBH. This publication brings together previous research and summarizes current best practice. Following the guidance will provide for better biomass and better future forests assurance to growers.”

Seán Finan, IrBEA CEO, said: “We call on Minister Ryan and his Government to urgently recognize the significant role that solid biomass can play in decarbonizing our energy uses. A basic first step is to recognize the potential of solid biomass in key Government policy documents and as a readily available decarbonization option in achieving renewable energy targets. We need to also see an enhanced focus and increased promotion by Government, of the biomass support available through the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH).”

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