Demonstration adaptation project : Wood fuel in the Cairngorms.

Location:  The Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

This Clim-ATIC demonstration project will fund three key activities:

1) A range of FREE training, and awareness-raising events to increase the capacity to use wood fuel in the Cairngorms National Park

2) Promotion and knowledge transfer of the use of wood fuel through a new website www.lowcarboncairgorms.org

3) The setting up of a community log supply chain in the Cairngorms National Park

The project will work alongside other ongoing wood fuel initiatives taking place in the Cairngorms National Park which will ensure a legacy of ongoing support and advice after the Clim-ATIC project is finished in February 2011. In addition the Clim-ATIC demonstration project activities will be an integrated part of the Cairngorms National Park Woodfuel Action Plan, which will ensure complementarity with other wood fuel-related activities in the region.  

Training and Awareness-raising Events

A number of FREE events are planned, designed to inform different audiences and increase awareness of different aspects of woodfuel supply and use. These events will make use of knowledge, materials and contacts developed during previous projects (e.g. the NPP Northern WoodHeat project) as appropriate and applied to the local level:

Future events:

For more information on any event or to make bookings please email woodfuelbookings@lowcarboncairngorms.org

Seminar: Community Wood fuel – This seminar is specifically for community groups and local community members interested in starting a wood fuel initiative. It will outline the issues involved in supplying and running different types of wood fuel installation, and will also cover business models, the importance of wood fuel quality and give examples of community initiatives already in operation. It is a half day event, will be held indoors, refreshments will be provided. 

Training: planning a domestic Wood fuel Installation - This event will be aimed at householders who are thinking of installing wood fuel and looking for general information on boilers, installers, fuel supply and suppliers, advice and support  and grant-funding, perhaps in combination with other renewables e.g. solar hot water.   It is a half day event, will be held indoors, capacity 25 persons, refreshments will be provided. It will be run twice:

Seminar: Making the most of farm woodlands -  This event will be aimed at landowners, farmers, tenants and crofters, to enable them to make best use of farm woodlands, in particular highlighting new ways of using farm timber resources as a fuel. It is a full day event, will take place mid-week, will be both indoors & outdoor, has a capacity of 30 persons and lunch is provided.  It will be run twice:

Seminar: Wood fuel for the Construction Industry - This will be aimed at the building trade; planners, building control, architects, installers and plumbers. It will include presentations from existing installers, suppliers and users, and also from Highland Council representatives on planning and building control requirements and from BRE on accreditation. It will promote a better understanding of the planning and safety issues surrounding the use of Wood fuel heating systems and also include information on how to access further training.  It is a full day event, to be held mid week, indoor, for 50 persons and lunch will be provided. It will be run twice:

11th May 2010 - Boat of Garten Community Hall
18th May 2010 - Lochan Hall, Strathdon

Seminar: Community Woodland Association training - This seminar will be aimed at Community Woodland Association members and interested community groups within the National Park and will demonstrate opportunities that wood fuel provides for community forest management and development. It will be a full day event, midweek, indoor/outdoor, will target 30 persons and lunch will be provided.

Training: Wood fuel Boiler Installation for professionals – This will be aimed specifically at plumbers from within the Cairngorms National Park to train them to become accredited. This will hopefully be the start of a training source that will provide local accredited installers to meet future demand  It is anticipated it will be a 2 day training module, held mid week, indoor, for 10 persons. There will be 50% subsidised cost for this event - Details to be confirmed.

For more information on any event or to make bookings please email woodfuelbookings@lowcarboncairngorms.org

Past events:

Training: Wood fuel Supply & Fuel Quality - This event covered fuel supply issues and was aimed at landowners, wood fuel suppliers, timber merchants, system suppliers and installers, end users (managers of public buildings) to ensure all parts of a supply chain understand the issues and implications surrounding wood fuel supply and quality. It covered raw material supply, fuel production, business models and also fuel quality. It was run twice:
Monday 16 th November 2009 - Glenlivet Estate Offices, Tomintoul 
Saturday 21st November 2009 - Aboyne Academy 

Wood fuel Fair 27th May 2009 - This general event aimed at the general public, publicised the benefits wood fuel can bring. It  showcased installers, suppliers and advice sources.  The venue was Alvie Estate.  

Promotion and and knowledge transfer

A programme of publicity and information will be carried out in order to support the above events. Most of this effort will be focused through the creation of a new website promoting Wood fuel heating on the address www.lowcarboncairngorms.org/woodfuel. The system will be set up to allow for creation of sites featuring other technologies/sectors in the future in other folders. An introductory page on www.lowcarboncairngorms.org will direct visitors to the Wood fuel section and others as they become available.

The Wood fuel website will contain articles promoting the benefits of the technology. These will explain how the systems work for the end user as well as highlighting the methods of production and transportation of wood pellets and logs. Facilities will be set up to allow the insertion of videos detailing these processes into pages on the site. We will set up a facility to show a ‘near real-time’ cost comparison between Kerosene and Wood fuel pellets to highlight the cost benefits.A directory of installers, suppliers and other associated firms within the park will be included in the website.on the Wood fuel Fairs to ensure that they are well attended, create a significant regional, if not national, impact, and will also provide a vehicle for publicising, and recruiting attendees for, the other seminars and training events.

A recognisable brand for event promotion will be developed to allow effective advertisement of project activities, and to establish an identity for Clim-ATIC’s wood fuel work within the National Park. Each event will be promoted widely to target audiences through web-based advertising, distribution of flyers, display of posters throughout the park area and advertisement in local press. In addition local press articles will be commissioned showcasing work ongoing as part of the Clim-ATIC wood fuel project.

Local case studies – two case studies of existing wood fuel installations in the national park (one small and one medium scale) will be produced for distribution at events and to other interested parties. 

An existing leaflet “Planning a Wood fuel Installation” which outlines the basic factors that should be considered, will be reprinted with the appropriate branding for distribution at events, and supporting material for distribution at each event as appropriate will be designed and produced.  

Community Log Supply Chain

The popularity of wood burning stoves as a supplementary household heat source is increasing, and semi-automated log boilers are now available which make heating with logs a convenient and viable possibility for primary domestic heat sources. However, small scale domestic firewood supply in the CNP area is difficult to source economically (unless you own woodland) and often poor quality and the Clim-ATIC project will support the set up a community-led firewood supply chain with the help of the Community Woodland Association.  Steps towards this will include:

Identification of community and formation of steering group

Visit to existing community supply chain ( e.g. Dunnest or Find horn)

Assistance with business plan and grant applications 

Seminar for other interested communities outlining the process 

Training – e.g. health and safety and insurance etc.

Project plan