Biomass project team to visit isles
Representatives from a project looking into the potential to grow biomass in Northern Europe are to visit the isles next week.
The PelleTime International Steering Group, which is studying the growing market of renewable energy resources to meet EU carbon emission reduction targets, will include people from Finland, Sweden and Scotland.
There are trial plantations of potential crops currently running in Shetland and Orkney.
With Hjaltland Housing Association currently examining possible importation of biomass to heat the proposed Scalloway housing scheme, a local market could be developed that the local agricultural industry could benefit from.
Last October three representatives of the Shetland PelleTime stakeholders group joined a delegation from Orkney, the north of Scotland, Finland, Sweden and Iceland which visited Bavaria and Austria to examine the local pellet market and how it could be developed in the representatives’ respective areas.
During their visit the group will carry out crop trials in Sandwick and, after visits to Shetland Amenity Trust and the Shetland Museum, there will be a meeting at the Shetland Hotel on Tuesday at 5.30pm for anyone interested in the project.
The meeting will include a presentation by Geoff Sellers and Faye McKenzie of the Orkney Agronomy Institute on the work in Shetland and Orkney, and there will also be presentations by the international partners.
