“When properly chopped, stacked, stored, and given enough time to dry and be burnt in a highly efficient stove, wood can be a climate-friendly alternative with minimal emissions.”
Wood energy on the rise in Europe, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2022.
Meeting the wood fuel conditions set out by UNECE is key to developing a sustainable global wood energy programme.
The Irish wood fuel sector is stepping up to the mark in producing quality firewood that complies with the standards demanded by UNECE but also by Ireland’s Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme (see panel).
Nowhere is this more evident than in O’Keeffe Sawmills, located 2km southeast of Lismore in the pastoral Blackwater Valley of west Waterford.
The sawmill was established in 1974 by Gerry O’Keeffe, who was joined by his son Bernard in 2000. Bernard identified a market in wood fuels by turning the offcuts from the pallet operation into an integrated firewood business.
This business thrived, but by 2012, when OK Fuel Supplies was established, the O’Keeffes realised that the operation needed major investment to fully expand into a nationwide enterprise.
They applied to Waterford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for funding, which was granted under the Rural Enterprise Development Strategic Action 2.1 Capital Investment Programme.
The O’Keeffes’ investment plan which amounted to €2m, included the purchase of 4ha of adjoining land to expand the log yard and buildings.
The O'Keeffes invested €2m in land purchase, the installation of eight industrial kilns, machinery and this storage unit with a ground floor area of 4,500sq m. \ Donal Magner
They also constructed two storage sheds with a floor area of 4,500m2, and installed eight custom-built industrial kilns to dry the firewood to below 20% moisture content (MC), which will be the requirement next year for WFQA-certified firewood suppliers.
“The investment in the kilns alone was €800,000, which was essential in delivering consistently high-quality dried firewood and kindling,” says Bernard. “We can bring moisture content to between 10 and 15%, if required,” he adds.
The transformation of OK Wood Fuels to a national operator has been swift. “None of this existed five years ago,” says Bernard, pointing to the enormous storage sheds and kilns as a constant stream of trucks arrive in the yard, some with sawn timber and logs, but most of the activity this time of year is outward.
We still supply our small customer base with bales of blocks for domestic use
Articulated trucks depart with firewood for supermarkets, forecourts of fuel stations, co-ops and other outlets, but OK Fuels hasn’t forgotten its traditional small-scale customers.
“The business is flexible and while we supply the large-scale operators with as many as 200,000 bags per outlet, we still supply our small customer base with bales of blocks for domestic use,” says Bernard.
During my visit, the storage sheds were stocked with dried bagged firewood.
“We build up a supply of logs from February to October, which is our really busy period so we have sufficient dry timber ready for delivery during the winter,” says Gerry O’Keeffe.
“We provide employment for 22 people on average throughout the year, which increases to up to 34 during the peak period.”
The O’Keeffes purchase hardwood and softwood logs from Coillte and private growers – the company is Coillte’s biggest firewood customer.
While the OK Fuel brand is now well known nationally, pallet production plays a major role in the company’s plans.
Bernard reels off the names of major sawmills that provide sawn timber for pallet production. Like firewood, high standards need to be maintained for pallets, which are essential in the packaging and transport of food, drink, medicine and other products, nationally and worldwide.
Pointing to a consignment of pallets for a well-known customer, he says: “These are produced to cater for animal feed products, which are delivered to 80 countries around the world.”
When asked about the future plans for the company, he says “our strategy is to become fully energy self-sufficient” by mixing renewables to include solar energy. He sees huge potential in locating solar panels on buildings and other spaces such as car parks instead of always concentrating on good land.
The plan is to eventually install solar panels on the roofs of the storage sheds which would provide a total energy solution – backed up by energy from the kilns.
“Solar energy makes sense as the sawing and drying operation is carried out during the spring and summer period when the mill is at peak production, and when solar is at optimum performance,” he explains.
So OK Fuel Supplies will not only keep the home fires burning but will also help Ireland’s renewable energy programme by selling excess energy back into the grid in the future.
Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme raising standards
Initiated by the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), the WFQA scheme is Ireland’s leading certification system for wood fuel suppliers. Firewood, wood pellets, wood chips or other solid biomass sourced from WFQA-accredited suppliers guarantee fuel that complies with strict guidelines for moisture content, sustainability and traceability.
A criticism of wood energy is directed at its potential to increase pollutants, especially fine particulate matter, when the moisture content (MC) of burnt wood is too high.
WFQA-accredited mills will be producing firewood below 20% MC next year which ensures cleaner and more efficient burning. WFQA-certified suppliers are regularly audited, ensuring their products not only burn efficiently but also support responsible forest management and environmental protection across Ireland.
Wood fuel in Ireland and Europe – supply should not be an issue
Wood fuel is often regarded as an energy source mainly confined to developing countries, which is partially true as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
“One-third of households worldwide and two-thirds of those in Africa use wood as their main fuel for cooking, heating and boiling water,” the report states.
However, wood is also a major source of energy in Europe. Eurostat data shows that EU countries used 118.5 million m3 of wood fuel in 2021, up from 113.8 million m3 the previous year and 115 million in 2019.
France and Germany increased their wood fuel usage by 15% from 2019 to 2020. In countries like Sweden, Finland and Denmark, wood is the main component of their renewable energy programmes. Wood fuel is likely to increase due to threats to gas and oil supply, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While it is accepted that wood cannot supply all energy needs, it has a major role to play because it is a renewable resource. Also, Europe only harvests 500 million m3 of its annual increment of 800 million m3 so supply should not be an issue. The gross annual forest increment in Ireland is 10 million m3 while half of that volume is not harvested.
Even though the recent worst storms in the history of the State damaged 9 million m3 of Irish forests, this is still less than the annual volume increment.
Unlike construction and other sawn products which require large straight logs, wood energy can use small pulpwood and poorly formed timber as well as sawmill offcuts and residue.
“When properly chopped, stacked, stored, and given enough time to dry and be burnt in a highly efficient stove, wood can be a climate-friendly alternative with minimal emissions.”
Wood energy on the rise in Europe, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2022.
Meeting the wood fuel conditions set out by UNECE is key to developing a sustainable global wood energy programme.
The Irish wood fuel sector is stepping up to the mark in producing quality firewood that complies with the standards demanded by UNECE but also by Ireland’s Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme (see panel).
Nowhere is this more evident than in O’Keeffe Sawmills, located 2km southeast of Lismore in the pastoral Blackwater Valley of west Waterford.
The sawmill was established in 1974 by Gerry O’Keeffe, who was joined by his son Bernard in 2000. Bernard identified a market in wood fuels by turning the offcuts from the pallet operation into an integrated firewood business.
This business thrived, but by 2012, when OK Fuel Supplies was established, the O’Keeffes realised that the operation needed major investment to fully expand into a nationwide enterprise.
They applied to Waterford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for funding, which was granted under the Rural Enterprise Development Strategic Action 2.1 Capital Investment Programme.
The O’Keeffes’ investment plan which amounted to €2m, included the purchase of 4ha of adjoining land to expand the log yard and buildings.
The O'Keeffes invested €2m in land purchase, the installation of eight industrial kilns, machinery and this storage unit with a ground floor area of 4,500sq m. \ Donal Magner
They also constructed two storage sheds with a floor area of 4,500m2, and installed eight custom-built industrial kilns to dry the firewood to below 20% moisture content (MC), which will be the requirement next year for WFQA-certified firewood suppliers.
“The investment in the kilns alone was €800,000, which was essential in delivering consistently high-quality dried firewood and kindling,” says Bernard. “We can bring moisture content to between 10 and 15%, if required,” he adds.
The transformation of OK Wood Fuels to a national operator has been swift. “None of this existed five years ago,” says Bernard, pointing to the enormous storage sheds and kilns as a constant stream of trucks arrive in the yard, some with sawn timber and logs, but most of the activity this time of year is outward.
We still supply our small customer base with bales of blocks for domestic use
Articulated trucks depart with firewood for supermarkets, forecourts of fuel stations, co-ops and other outlets, but OK Fuels hasn’t forgotten its traditional small-scale customers.
“The business is flexible and while we supply the large-scale operators with as many as 200,000 bags per outlet, we still supply our small customer base with bales of blocks for domestic use,” says Bernard.
During my visit, the storage sheds were stocked with dried bagged firewood.
“We build up a supply of logs from February to October, which is our really busy period so we have sufficient dry timber ready for delivery during the winter,” says Gerry O’Keeffe.
“We provide employment for 22 people on average throughout the year, which increases to up to 34 during the peak period.”
The O’Keeffes purchase hardwood and softwood logs from Coillte and private growers – the company is Coillte’s biggest firewood customer.
While the OK Fuel brand is now well known nationally, pallet production plays a major role in the company’s plans.
Bernard reels off the names of major sawmills that provide sawn timber for pallet production. Like firewood, high standards need to be maintained for pallets, which are essential in the packaging and transport of food, drink, medicine and other products, nationally and worldwide.
Pointing to a consignment of pallets for a well-known customer, he says: “These are produced to cater for animal feed products, which are delivered to 80 countries around the world.”
When asked about the future plans for the company, he says “our strategy is to become fully energy self-sufficient” by mixing renewables to include solar energy. He sees huge potential in locating solar panels on buildings and other spaces such as car parks instead of always concentrating on good land.
The plan is to eventually install solar panels on the roofs of the storage sheds which would provide a total energy solution – backed up by energy from the kilns.
“Solar energy makes sense as the sawing and drying operation is carried out during the spring and summer period when the mill is at peak production, and when solar is at optimum performance,” he explains.
So OK Fuel Supplies will not only keep the home fires burning but will also help Ireland’s renewable energy programme by selling excess energy back into the grid in the future.
Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme raising standards
Initiated by the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), the WFQA scheme is Ireland’s leading certification system for wood fuel suppliers. Firewood, wood pellets, wood chips or other solid biomass sourced from WFQA-accredited suppliers guarantee fuel that complies with strict guidelines for moisture content, sustainability and traceability.
A criticism of wood energy is directed at its potential to increase pollutants, especially fine particulate matter, when the moisture content (MC) of burnt wood is too high.
WFQA-accredited mills will be producing firewood below 20% MC next year which ensures cleaner and more efficient burning. WFQA-certified suppliers are regularly audited, ensuring their products not only burn efficiently but also support responsible forest management and environmental protection across Ireland.
Wood fuel in Ireland and Europe – supply should not be an issue
Wood fuel is often regarded as an energy source mainly confined to developing countries, which is partially true as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
“One-third of households worldwide and two-thirds of those in Africa use wood as their main fuel for cooking, heating and boiling water,” the report states.
However, wood is also a major source of energy in Europe. Eurostat data shows that EU countries used 118.5 million m3 of wood fuel in 2021, up from 113.8 million m3 the previous year and 115 million in 2019.
France and Germany increased their wood fuel usage by 15% from 2019 to 2020. In countries like Sweden, Finland and Denmark, wood is the main component of their renewable energy programmes. Wood fuel is likely to increase due to threats to gas and oil supply, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While it is accepted that wood cannot supply all energy needs, it has a major role to play because it is a renewable resource. Also, Europe only harvests 500 million m3 of its annual increment of 800 million m3 so supply should not be an issue. The gross annual forest increment in Ireland is 10 million m3 while half of that volume is not harvested.
Even though the recent worst storms in the history of the State damaged 9 million m3 of Irish forests, this is still less than the annual volume increment.
Unlike construction and other sawn products which require large straight logs, wood energy can use small pulpwood and poorly formed timber as well as sawmill offcuts and residue.
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