Wood energy
Wood is a clean, efficient and renewable energy source. The carbon released by burning wood is almost equal to the carbon absorbed by trees during growth.
Increasingly businesses and organisations are using wood for industrial heat and electricity generation, as well as heating commercial buildings, schools and greenhouses.
Free technical information available
Benefits of using wood energy
- Reducing greenhouse gas and particulate emissions
- Demonstrating environmental leadership which can improve your brand and company reputation
- In many cases, reducing fuel costs.
Wood energy in your business
To use wood for energy in your business you may need to invest in a new wood energy boiler or adapt an existing fossil-fuel fired boiler.
Modern wood fuel boilers are highly efficient and will often be able to:
- Operate automatically, including fuel loading
- Be monitored remotely
- Automatically remove ash and self clean.
The three types of wood energy available commercially in New Zealand:
- Wood pellets - dried and compressed sawdust and wood shavings
- Wood chips - made from wood off-cuts, forest residue or purpose grown energy logs
- Hogged wood - wood that has been mechanically broken down, usually of lower-quality.
Funding available
Grants are available to develop the wood energy market – for businesses wanting to use wood for energy. There may also be funding for strategic wood supply projects. Read about wood energy grants.
Free technical information available
Visit the Bioenergy Knowledge Centre to get information about how businesses are growing the wood energy supply chain in New Zealand and how others are installing wood-fired boilers. There are many reports, case studies, tools, etc. Ask if you qualify today.
More information
- Wood Fuels Trading Site - a place to buy and sell wood fuels online
- Wood Energy – using wood as a renewable energy source (PDF 383kb)
- Bioenergy Association of New Zealand
- Drivers of Woody Bioenergy in New Zealand (PDF 613kb)
- Information on wood burners for heating your home
