Wood heat installed capacity reaches IGW

The REA and WHA have together ensured that the modern wood heating systems installed under the Renewable Heat Incentive met its 1GW milestone. The RHI was launched in 2011 to encourage uptake of renewable heating systems in public and private sector applications.

The modern wood heating boilers burn wood pellets, chips and briquettes or logs which in turn feed into a central heating system or into industrial processes.

At present there are approximately 5,000 wood heating installations accredited under the scheme. This has created 1GW of green energy to UK businesses and organisations including farms, care homes, churches and hotels.

REA published PwC analysis which found that wood heating equates to 56% of investment and 90% of renewable heat generation between 2010 and 2012.

Dr Nina Skorupska, REA Chief Executive, said:

“Thousands of UK businesses have realised the benefits of biomass for delivering reliable, low cost, low carbon heating, and yet we’ve only just scratched the surface. We want renewable technologies to be the go-to option for all buildings and industrial processes, which will make a huge dent in our greenhouse gas emissions and greatly reduce our dependence on imported gas. To secure this, the Government must take the advice of the Committee on Climate Change and commit to sufficient funding for the RHI in the next spending round.” The Wood Heat Association Interim Chairman Julian Morgan-Jones said:

“1GW of wood heating under the RHI is a major breakthrough. Our industry is growing fast, from boiler manufacturers and installers to fuel producers and distributors. We want that growth to be both successful and sustainable. As well as stability in the RHI, we also need to do more work on upskilling system installers and developing widely accepted installation standards for all boiler sizes. This is crucial for ensuring that as the industry grows, it maintains a solid reputation for excellent customer satisfaction.”