Branch Economy that could be a Powerhouse for Estates
The announcement that work has started on a £50 million wind farm in Sutherland has raised the temperature of the ongoing debate over this form of renewable as a useful energy source. For this reason, it seems incongruous that scant attention has been paid to a renewable power source that is undoubtedly “green” and comes with little or no anti-environmental baggage – woodchip.
Woodchip is a by-product of the forestry industry; shredded wood that comes from the tops of trees and the whole of smaller, lower quality trees. It is then dried and burned to supply building or water heating. Its exciting possibilities can be found at the Winton Estate in East Lothian, where about 300 tonnes of woodchip a year is used to heat Winton House and five estate cottages. Not only does this produce “free” energy, but by taking away the “dead ends”, the estate’s woodlands are cleaner and tidier as well.
Until now, owners of low-producing rural estates (i.e. those in the more rugged north and west that lack good arable land) have looked upon wind energy, if not as a panacea for their problems, then at least as something that will help their cash flow. Unfortunately these tend to involve some of the most beautiful and spectacular locations in Scotland and whatever the merits, or otherwise, of wind energy, planning permission tends to be a big problem, as can issues surrounding wild bird habitats and migration routes.
For these reasons it seems an appropriate time for landowners to acknowledge the potential that woodchip burning offers, although in terms of present technology it is only feasible for low-volume energy supply, Winton House being a good example of its present capabilities.
Woodchip burning already has a big advantage over conventional wind farms in that it is not necessary to attach the power source to the national grid. It also very much carries a local or “community” ethos, which makes it ideal for small rural pockets, especially those with a strong environmental dimension. A woodchip burning power station can be unobtrusive and, being located close to its power source, i.e. woodland, transportation does not leave any appreciable carbon footprint.
Looking to the future, an expansion of the generation process would probably see the technology benefit from economies of scale. This could lead to woodchip providing building and water heating for an entire village rather than a row of cottages and job creation through a manned power station. At present, it involves only one or two persons per unit, but multiply that by several hundred similar projects across the west and north-west Highlands and the employment prospects start to look encouraging.
In addition to being environment friendly, woodchip burning provides a potential outlet for rural landowners to diversify, which is more necessary now than at any time since the great estates were formed more than two centuries ago if the land is to provide an acceptable return and employment for local people.
Gregor Buick
gregor.buick@murraybeith.co.uk