Timber industry representatives have been encouraged after discussing issues surrounding the use of biomass with Scottish government ministers.
ConFor, the UK Forest Products Association and the Wood Panel Industries Federation met environment minister Roseanna Cunningham and energy minister Jim Mather.
Afterwards the representatives said they were delighted at the level of understanding of the “huge role” wood could play in a low-carbon economy.
ConFor chief executive Stuart Goodall said this meant maximising the use of timber in markets such as construction and using lower-quality wood to generate renewable heat.
Mr Goodall said using biomass to generate local heat could be up to 90% efficient, but a large-scale biomass plant burning wood for electricity operated at about only 30% efficiency.
ConFor has campaigned against diverting wood into large-scale biomass plants in the face of limited wood supplies.
He welcomed the ministers’ promise to raise issues surrounding timber supply and the promotion of biomass with colleagues at Westminster.
