A delegation of students and stakeholders from the Welsh forestry sector have attended a major international conference on wood energy.
Robinwood, the Forestry Commission Wales Interreg IIIC project, led the 30-strong delegation to the Robinwood International Wood Energy Week at Brandenburg to learn about modern biofuel methods and systems being used.
Some 250 delegates from six partner regions were at the event.
Anthony Bosanquet, Forestry Commissioner for Wales, said wood-fuel was becoming increasingly more viable due to rising fossil fuel prices and provided an opportunity to address the European problem of rural depopulation and the loss of jobs.
He said: “Forestry and timber products can play a vital role in rural regeneration, and help meet the Welsh Assembly government’s aspirations for providing real jobs in country areas.”
Mr Bosanquet said adding value to the timber crop by using wood waste and thinnings for energy could make a big difference to the profits of timber operations.
