One of the questions repeatedly asked as Ireland increases its forest cover is: “Will there be a market for the timber?”. The question applies especially in counties with above-average planting programmes.

The question has been repeatedly answered by sawmills and panel board mills, which not only process all the available material but even import logs to make up the shortfall. However, as Irish timber production is forecast to double to 8.1m m3 by 2035, other markets will be required.

Wood energy is likely to be one of the markets for this material. Ireland has lagged well behind European countries in optimising wood energy but this market is forecast to increase especially since the launch of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat. The main objective of the scheme is to increase the level of renewable energy in the heat sector and help Ireland meet its renewable energy targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

McCauley Wood Fuels, based in Mohill, Co Leitrim, regards the scheme as an important incentive in creating a viable wood renewable energy sector in Ireland. The company has been producing wood chips and firewood since 2008. Run by Brian McCauley and his son Kenny, the company provides wood chips and firewood to the growing renewable energy market.

“We supply wood chips to local enterprises such as Arigna Fuels, Masonite, piggeries, nursing homes, leisure centres and other businesses which have converted to wood-burning boilers, while our firewood is distributed nationwide,” said Kenny.

He explained that up until 2017 the plant was processing approximately 5,000t of logs annually comprising 3,500t of wood chips and 1,500t of firewood.

“We had reached a point where we could no longer meet demand with our existing set-up and we were actively taking on the new supply outlets,” he said. Brian and Kenny, who is an engineer, explored a number of options to increase production, efficiently and cost effectively, with Irish machine agent Oakleaf Forestry who had supplied some of their previous machines.

“The announcement of the long awaited Support Scheme for Renewable Heat also convinced us that it was an appropriate time to increase our processing capacity,” Kenny maintained. In addition, the McCauley processing plant is ideally located as Co Leitrim has a sufficient supply of small logs from first thinnings – the preferred material for a wood chip production.

“We eventually decided to purchase the Kesla C645T-2, which is the first Kesla wood chipper in Ireland,” he said. “The set-up of the new machine will also enable us to carry out more forest roadside chipping in the future, using whole-tree harvested material, which we see as having growing potential as larger biomass markets come on stream,” he explained.

“Manufactured in Finland, the Kesla has an hourly wood chip output of 35t so it has the potential to easily double annual production.”

The chipper is operated from a 310hp Case-IH Magnum tractor where all the controls are located.

“Along with the new chute design, the equipment provides plenty of reach when filling high-walking floor trailers while the chute camera system greatly improves visibility for the operator in the tractor cab,” Kenny explained.

“This means more precise filling, much less spillage and less time lost repositioning the chipper.”

The McCauleys are currently progressing with a LEADER funding application to support the purchase of the Kesla wood chipper, which is administered through Leitrim County Council. Leader funding would be seen by the McCauleys as a vote of confidence in the wood energy market in Leitrim according to Kenny.

“We are anticipating a significant ramp-up in demand now that the renewable energy scheme is on the way and this will benefit counties such as Leitrim, which has a significant forest resource. With its potential in biomass, we believe Leitrim will become a leading county in sustainable wood energy.

“Rather than just transporting the timber to other regions, a well-developed biomass industry in Leitrim could attract other industries and employment opportunities to the county.”

Kenny McCauley will address the National Forestry Conference in Enfield on 30 May. His presentation is “Converting from black to green energy – the importance of localised wood energy solutions”.

Forestry and bioeconomy conference

A panel of Irish and international experts has been lined up for the conference “Forestry as a central pillar in the bioeconomy” on Wednesday, 30 May in Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, Co Meath. The conference will explore the role of forestry and the forest products sector in climate change, product development and the future of wood as a renewable medium to displace materials with high-embedded carbon such as steel, aluminium and concrete, as well as generating energy which displaces fossil fuels.

International speakers include Markus Lager of Kaden + Lager Architects, Berlin one of Europe’s leading architects in designing high rise buildings in engineered wood and Pekka Leskinen, Head of the Bioeconomy Programme, in the European Forest Institute, and an expert on the role of forestry in the bioeconomy.

Irish speakers include Gerard Murphy, Coillte Forest, Kenny McCauley, McCauley Wood Fuels and Prof Kevin O’Connor, school of biomolecular and biomedical science in University College Dublin and Bioplastech. Further details on booking from the organisers Society of Irish Foresters (email info@soif.ie or phone 086-2582240) and the Wood Marketing Federation (email info@wood.ie or phone 086-2607883).