Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Domestic Biomass Supply Chain Drop in Day

10th June 2013

Local shops and businesses across Highland are being encouraged to take advantage of a new retailing opportunity – bagged wood pellets for domestic biomass heating systems.
The Highland Council is hosting an event in Inverness on Thursday 20 June to encourage an increase in the supply of domestic biomass fuel across the area.

The event is to allow engagement between producers, delivery companies, shop outlets, supermarkets, solid fuel merchants and installers and aims to identify and encourage new suppliers and improve local supply chains.

The Highland Council is considering, along with other options, installing around 2,000 individual wood pellet heating systems into its council houses over the next few years. These systems will be offered to tenants in communties where there is no gas supply. Many of these properties currently have solid fuel heating. This work is part of the Council’s housing improvement programme which will make sure that its housing stock meets and exceeds the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

There’s also expected to be an increase in demand from home owners for individual wood pellet heating systems once the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) starts next spring. The RHI will pay householders to generate and use renewable energy.

Chairman of the Finance, Housing & Resources Committee, Councillor Dave Fallows said: “Before we install these systems, we want to make sure that our tenants have access to locally accessible supplies of bagged wood pellets. Ideally households would be able to get wood pellets delivered to them each week through local delivery services - similar to the way that some currently get coal delivered.”

“We’ve already installed over 100 systems and our tenants have told us that they are very happy with their new wood pellet heating which they are finding easier to use and more affordable. They particularly enjoy being able to heat their home up quickly. ”

The Council has undertaken research which has quantified the anticipated demand from households throughout the year in each of the different communities. It also proposed a number of solutions for local suppliers and retailers who may wish to enter this market. Whilst it indicated that there are currently few wood pellet suppliers / retailers in much of the area, it identified several options which it wants to explore further.

Councillor Fallows added: “We need to let suppliers and retailers know about these new business opportunities and the size of the new market. We want to give them a chance to meet with wood pellet producers and delivery companies. Together they can explore retailing options for all the different communities.

“We are very keen to increase market interest and supply routes by promoting these new retailing opportunities and raising awareness of changes to the fuel supply market.

Creating better chains of outlets will make the delivery process more economic and avoid the situation where disproportionate delivery charges have to be added to the supply bill.”

The drop-in event will be held on Thursday 20th June from 10 am – 12 noon at The SEAM Centre Inverness College UHI. Invitations are being sent to a wide range of potential suppliers and retailers.

Registration is not required, just come along on the day. For more information, an invite or to discuss opportunities further, please contact Karen Maclean, Energy & Sustainability Team, The Highland Council on 01463 255276 or via email at Karen.Maclean[AT]highland.gov.uk

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen FlightsThumbnail for article : Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen Flights
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen.   The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.  
18/3/2024
Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying SoThumbnail for article : Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying So
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation.   The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.  
14/3/2024
Clarification On The Role Of MCR Pathways' Coordinators And Mentors In Highland Schools
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme.   Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.  
15/3/2024
Council Agrees A New Draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan.   The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.  
15/3/2024
Members agree Highland Council's new Community Wealth Building Strategy
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy.   They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.  
15/3/2024
£60m Capital Investment Approved For Roads And Infrastructure In Highland
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024.   The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.  
10/3/2024
Highland Council Budget - Delivery Plan Sets Out Roadmap To Deliver Savings And Investment
A draft Delivery Plan sets out a roadmap which will ensure the delivery of £54.6m savings and over £100m investment agreed by Council over the next 3 years.   The report is a difficult to follow series looing at areas but does not specify where the cuts to jobs will come over the next three years.  
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For TapestriesThumbnail for article : Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.   This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.  
6/3/2024
Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes AwardsThumbnail for article : Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes Awards
Dawn Meston from The Highland Council's Housing team won a prestigious award at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards held at The Studio, Glasgow on Thursday 29 February 2024 in recognition of her contribution to bringing empty homes back into use across Highland.   Between 1 April and 31 December 2023, a total of 25 empty properties were brought back into use following Dawn's intervention as Highland's Empty Homes Officer.  
5/3/2024
Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In ThursoThumbnail for article : Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In Thurso
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has confirmed details of a trial, to start next week, of a thermal process for carrying out pothole repairs.   An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the work using a thermal repair process.