FUNDING has been received to begin a project for a local wood fuel hub, bringing together local farmers, landowners and the community.

The South Devon Coastal Renewable Energy Network, or SDCREN, has secured funding from the Regen SW Community Energy Accelerator Devon County Council fund.

The funding will help investigate and initiate the first building blocks of a local wood fuel hub where local farmers, land owners and the community can work together to source affordable wood fuel, boost the local economy and create employment.

This work follows a SDCREN study into biomass as a suitable fuel for South Devon and a very successful ‘wood fuel from hedges’ event in March this year in South Pool, organised with the Devon Hedge Group.

This event and others in South Devon indicated that there is strong appetite locally to develop wood fuel and biomass as a locally distinctive form of renewable energy.

The Accelerator Fund is providing start-up assistance to community energy projects in Devon, excluding Plymouth and Torbay, to help groups deploy community-owned renewables.

Applications under this objective were able to apply for up to £4,500 of funding for projects. Alongside this, Regen SW will be managing the fund and providing support to the group on making best use of the investment and engaging as many members of the community as possible.

‘This is a terrific opportunity for the community to gain access to affordable energy and for farmers and land owners to generate income and create jobs’, says Peter Sandover local Architect and coordinator of SDCREN.

‘Through the programme there will be a chance for people to try their hand at practical coppicing and hedge laying, visit other wood fuel hubs and receive training on the components of a hub.’

‘This project is one of 17 community energy initiatives that Regen and Devon County Council have awarded more than £50,000 of funding to in the last year’, said Jodie Giles, Project Manager at Regen SW.

‘The fund and support are about helping communities become more environmentally, socially and economically resilient. We still have some funding available for new community energy projects in Devon.

‘We hope that this project will inspire people to form a hub in partnership with farmers, and encourage as many people as possible to get involved in looking after and benefiting from local wood fuel resources ’.

Peter Wotton local land owner and member of the SDCREN said: ‘Heat and energy from wood fuel is a less controversial type of renewable energy, it helps the local economy and keeps fuel costs down.

‘Wood fuel is a logical response for our unique landscape assisting in the management and maintenance of our woodlands and hedgerows.’

Determining the exact form and possible locations for the hub will come out of the consultation with stakeholders and the community however it is likely to include shared wood storage facilities and equipment, a logs for labour scheme, agreements with land owners and supply contracts of logs and wood chip.

Those interested in the concept of a wood fuel hub whether farmers, land owners or consumers of wood are encouraged to attend the free events:

Introduction and Workshop One, held in South Pool Village Hall on Wednesday, November 25 at 6pm; a bus tour of similar hubs on Monday, December 14; a hedge laying event on Saturday, January 16 at 9am and Workshop Two at Stokenham Village Hall on Tuesday, February 17 at 6pm.

To book the events, or for more information, contact Peter Sandover either by email at: [email protected] or phone: 01548 531980.