Woodfuel use could create new jobs - graduate jobs

A woodfuel industry centred on utilising extra supplies from the UK's forests could generate thousands of jobs, many of them for graduates, according to officials.

The Forestry Commission says that millions of tonnes of wood that would otherwise go to waste could be used to heat schools, hospitals, small firms and housing blocks.

It estimates that the woodfuel industry could potentially be worth £1 billion to the economy and create more than 15,000 jobs across the UK. Less than 1.5 million tonnes of wood is currently used as fuel.

Woodlands in England alone could provide an extra two million tonnes of supplies for fuelling woodchip boilers by 2020, it said.

As a substitute for heating oil in rural communities that have no access to gas, woodfuel can help reduce emissions and energy use.

It will also deliver environmental benefits by improving woodland management and cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, the Commission said.

In forest areas with dense, uncontrolled vegetation, removing some trees for fuel could also boost wildlife habitats.

Copyright Press Association 2011