An initiative has been launched to encourage Scotland to follow Sweden’s example in embracing wood as a potential source of renewable, sustainable energy.

A research booklet ‘Renewable energy from wood – An opportunity for Scotland’, funded partly by the EU Altener programme and the Freshfield Foundation, has been circulated among members of the Scottish parliament in the hope a large proportion of heating demand can be met by burning wood.

It highlights how wood fuel can help fulfill international obligations on climate change, create jobs and facilitate forest management, arguing that some four million tonnes could be available annually from Scotland’s forest industry.

Raymond Henderson, of property consultant Bidwells, put the booklet together with AP forestry AB of Sweden. He said increased timber supply from Scottish forests, coupled with the current stagnant market for sawmill co-products, presented wood fuel with an opportunity.

&#8220There needs to be something in [using timber for energy] for everybody in the chain, from the grower to the guy who puts the wood in the boiler.”

Raymond Henderson, Bidwells.

He suggests wood can be used for heating hospitals, sports halls and government buildings, creating a new market for chips and pellets. He questions why there is so much emphasis on providing green electricity when there is a market for “green heat”.

Mr Henderson, who is lobbying MSPs on the issue this week, said: “It’s a simple idea. If we can get the politicians on side the whole thing will take off.

“There needs to be something in it for everybody in the chain, from the grower to the guy who puts the wood in the boiler.”