With last year’s opening of the long-anticipated support scheme for renewable heat (SSRH), there is a renewed focus from commercial operators considering wood fuels as a source of heating. The SSRH provides a strong financial incentive to convert fossil fuel boilers to wood chip and wood pellet boilers.

The Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) Scheme administered by the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) plays an important part in the certification of the fuel in compliance with the SSRH. With support from DAFM, the WFQA continues to grow its membership. WFQA members provide a valuable outlet for forestry and sawmill residues.

The WFQA certifies wood fuel suppliers in Ireland against ISO 17225 fuel quality regulations.

RED II sets out clear CO2 minimum requirements of 70% greenhouse gas savings from 2021 and 80% from 2026

The EU RED II Directive promotes energy from renewable sources and sets out clear sustainability requirements for all renewable fuels to ensure the fuels used are fully sustainable and have an overall positive impact on the environment.

The directive sets out clear benchmark requirements around forest sustainability, suitable feedstocks, transport distances and other criteria that affect the sustainability of each wood fuel type.

RED II sets out clear CO2 minimum requirements of 70% greenhouse gas savings from 2021 and 80% from 2026. These minimum requirements are required for all fuels to be considered renewable.

Most certified material produced in Ireland will not have a difficulty in meeting the RED II sustainability criteria.