The Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Task Force today presented a report to the Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, outlining 26 recommendations by which Scotland can exploit its woody biomass in the generation of energy.

The Task Force has identified 7 million dry tonnes of new woody material which would be suitable for use in the bioenergy sector, including from waste wood, short rotation coppicing and short rotation forestry.

Recommendations include the development of new branch wood and branch recovery grant to encourage growers to bring wood to the market and carry out greater thinning in their forests and woodland.