Decentralised community-based bioenergy projects offer significant opportunities to better integrate forestry into rural communities and contribute to economic growth. Sourced by local forest biomass, these have the potential to revitalise rural communities, increase farm incomes and create sustainable jobs.

Similar to how farmers bring their cattle to the mart, IFA would like to see local biomass marts established, owned and operated by forest owner producer organisations.

If the potential is to be realised in Ireland, we need to introduce a support framework for farmers and local communities to transition towards a low carbon future

These would bring biomass – small wood from thinning – to the local energy market. This community-based approach is a tried and tested model in Europe that brings significant economic and social benefits.

If the potential is to be realised in Ireland, we need to introduce a support framework for farmers and local communities to transition towards a low carbon future. This will require:

  • The development and coordination of forest owner producer organisations to facilitate the collective supply of forestry biomass.
  • The purchase and construction of essential infrastructure, such as specialised harvesting, processing and transport machinery, storage and fuel quality measurement equipment.

    • The establishment of robust forest biomass supply chains is a major challenge facing the bioenergy sector. Farmers need support to optimise logistics and trading so they can collectively market quality forestry biomass at sustainable prices.

    A key element of successful biomass deployment is to connect the right biomass to the right value market. The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat will help to grow demand for forest biomass, but potential projects must have confidence that the required network is in place to provide continuous supply.

    Wood biomass, for year-round energy, is a vital outlet for small timber, before the forest matures to provide logs for other end uses

    A critical characteristic of the model outlined is that the market consists of ‘local loops’ of demand and supply in a defined geographic area, which means that local forestry biomass replaces fossil fuels, decreases greenhouse gas emissions and ensures that a high percentage of profits are retained in the local economy.

    Within Ireland’s renewable energy policy, wood bioenergy is often regarded as the ‘overlooked renewable’, despite the fact that it is one of the most flexible energy sources, unlike wind or solar energy. Wood biomass, for year-round energy, is a vital outlet for small timber, before the forest matures to provide logs for other end uses.

    There is sufficient timber to satisfy bioenergy, wood-based panel and sawmill demand, as production in Ireland is forecast to more than double to eight million m3 by 2035. With almost all of the increased volume expected to come from farm forests, putting in place dedicated supports for farmers to establish biomass trade centres or marts must be prioritised. This will be critical to achieving Ireland’s emission reduction targets, as set out in the Climate Action Plan.

    Geraldine O’Sullivan is executive secretary of the IFA farm family and social affairs committee.