Potential of Wood Energy to be discussed at IT Sligo conference

A range of experts in the field of wood energy will discuss the potential of wood for heat, energy and steam at a conference at IT Sligo on Friday, May 13th.
 
The economic benefit for the region, the availability and quality of the resource locally, and examples of industries currently using wood energy as their main energy supply will be discussed at the half day conference.
 
IT Sligo lecturer in Energy Management, Clean Energy Technologies and Energy Efficient Technologies, Conor Lawlor, said the conference is particularly relevant to businesses and organisations interested in making the switch to wood energy as their primary source of fuel. The move makes economical and environmental sense, he said; “Ireland now imports more than 90 per cent of its energy, making it the most import-dependent country in Europe and consequently, the most vulnerable. Making the switch to wood energy will help us to reduce our fossil fuel usage, and in turn, it has the added advantage of creating sustainable jobs locally in the region.”
 
“In the West and North West, we have wood in plentiful supply and there is no reason that all large organisations and businesses shouldn’t make the move to wood energy today. Heat from wood fuel makes a lot of financial sense because it costs approximately half the price of heat from oil and gas source. Payback on larger heat installations can be made in a matter of three to four years.”

1.45:  Welcome from the President (Terri Scott, IT Sligo)

2.00:  Economic Potential for Wood Energy in the West (Bernadette Phelan, WDC)

2.20:  Forestry Fuel Resource in the Western Region (Paddy Donovan, Clare Wood Energy Project)

2.45:  Wood Fuel Quality Assurance, (Tom Bruton, IRBEA)

3.15:  Tea/Coffee

3.30:  Heat, Steam and Power from Wood Energy (Joe O'Carroll, Imperative Energy)

4.00:  Case Study – Wood Energy for heat at a Health Centre (Declan McGoldrick, HSE)

4.30:  1,259 kilowatt BioEnergy Plant, Ontario. (Brain Campbell, Confederation College, Ontario)

5.00:  Detailed Feasibility Study, (Terence Cosgrove, Architect and Energy Consultant MRIAI)