Awareness of the potential adverse impact on the timber industry, economy and environment of subsidising the wood energy sector is growing, according to John Dye, president of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (Timcon).
Mr Dye said the effects of “artificial support” from the government for power generators to burn wood biomass were getting more media coverage, and the issue was also being more effectively highlighted by timber industry organisations.
“Together we’re channelling resources into ensuring customers, politicians and the public understand the great benefits of using wood and the negative impact of the biomass [subsidy] system,” he said.
“Prominent events have also given us a platform, including the demonstration by workers at the Kronospan wood panel plant and the furore over the proposed sale of public forests, which could have seen them felled for biomass.”
Subsidised biomass threatens raw material supply to the timber sector, he added, with latest predictions estimating that, if energy sector consumption grows as forecast, timber prices could double “in the near to medium term”.
