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Launch of Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) Scheme
A peer-nominated Oversight Committee of wood fuel suppliers launched the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme at the IrBEA/Teagasc Annual Conference earlier this month. Work on the scheme involved the publication of a National Workshop Agreement for Wood Fuel Quality Assurance - Requirements (NWA 4:2009) and the formation of a wood fuel quality assurance scheme for Ireland in conjunction with key government and non-governmental agencies / entities including:
National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD) - now part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF)
- The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI)
- Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)
- The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA)
- Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
The quality assurance scheme will certify organisations involved in the manufacture / supply of quality logs, chips, pellets and briquettes formed from clean wood. This Quality Assurance scheme will provide customers with confidence that they are purchasing a quality wood fuel from a sustainable source relevant to their needs.
The NWA 4:2009 includes both monitoring of the supply chain process and end-product testing. Documentation requirements will ensure the wood is sourced responsibly. Customers are protected as organisations certified under WFQA will retain responsibility for the product quality until the point of purchase at each stage in the process.
A number of organisations are already signed up to the scheme and are currently going through the certification process. Organisations interested in achieving certification can begin the application process by logging on to www.wfqa.org.
The WFWA Oversight Committee (Wood Fuel Quality Working Group)
The oversight committee will oversee the operation of the scheme for the initial twelve month period; at the end of the initial twelve month period, election of committee members will take place at an AGM of the scheme.
Organisations currently involved in the oversight committee include:
- Forest Fuels
- Red Squirrel Logs
- Rural Generation
- Balcas
- Timberpro
- DPellet
- Smartheat
- RPS
The wood fuel industry has grown significantly in the past five years and has penetrated into households, commercial premises, government organisations and industrial operations. The current demand is estimated to be 30,000 tonnes of wood pellets and 75,000 tonnes of wood chips annually. This largely indigenous industry provides sustainable fuel for heating and electricity and is a significant employer especially in rural areas.
The main objectives of the scheme are to:
- Support the delivery of a product which meets and exceeds the requirements of customers
- Instill confidence in the marketplace
- Ensure the production of sustainable wood fuel
- Ensure best practice operations throughout the wood fuel supply sector.
For all enquiries relating to the WFQA going forward, please contact the scheme e-mail: wfqaenquiries@wfqa.org, web: www.wfqa.org.
Also, for more information, please refer to SEI website.