Brankin heats up biomass conference in Elgin

Scottish Forestry Minister, Rhona Brankin, fuelled the debate at a Biomass Production conference where she urged the forestry and agriculture industries to seize opportunities now to work together.

Scottish Forestry Minister, Rhona Brankin, today fuelled the debate at a Biomass Production conference in Elgin where she urged the forestry and agriculture industries to seize opportunities now to work together.

Ms Brankin was in the North East to open a two day conference on 'Biomass Production - Energy from Forestry and Agriculture' being attended by over 100 delegates from 11 European countries.

The conference in Elgin will focus on Scottish and EU policy and opportunities to develop production of biomass from forest and agricultural crops.

Opening the conference, Ms Brankin told delegates of the importance of biomass to the development of rural Scotland and that there was much to discuss and take forward from this conference.

"In Scotland we recognised the need to act swiftly to do what we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions".

"The Scottish Executive supports many initiatives designed to encourage and facilitate the delivery of increased biomass usage as an alternative energy source".

""We have set targets to increase the production of electricity generated from renewable sources to 40% by 2020 and are working with stakeholders to hammer out details for the development of a Scottish biomass support scheme.

Farmers are being supported to establish short-rotation coppice energy crops.

Low-cost community heating projects which are particularly important to rural areas of Scotland and areas off the main gas network tackling fuel poverty and improving health, are being encouraged.

And with low carbon transport fuels we continue to drive towards increased production and usage of biodiesel.

However Scotland has much more to learn and a more integrated approach across Scotland will help realise the full potential of biomass as a energy source".

"Bio-energy provides new opportunities for agriculture and forestry to work together and this conference aims to stimulate closer co-operation".

"Today, you have the chance to make changes in energy production that will engage and benefit even the smallest of communities in Scotland, tomorrow".

"With our expanding forest resource and extensive agriculture sector, I urge delegates to engage with each other throughout this conference and work towards the development of a better, greener future delivering greater benefits to rural communities".

Technical experts from throughout Europe are lined up to speak at the two-day conference taking place in Elgin's, Eight Acres Hotel.

Topics to be covered include Scottish and EU policy, the potential of bio-energy, the development of inter-sectoral linkages, strategic planning, regulatory context for bio-energy and logistics, biomass energy production in agriculture and forestry, and opportunities to integrate biomass streams.

For further information about the conference contact: Stewart Meikle, Conference Organiser, on 01463 741836 or Fiona McPhie, Highland Birchwoods, 01463 811653.

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