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covered by third party certification schemes, but we were not aware of any such existing schemes available to operators.
Overall, the WRA feared the new standard rules in FPPv3 was too prohibitive for most of its members. Through many meetings, discussions, and perseverance and determination on the sector’s part, we managed to secure an open dialogue with the EA, which eventually led to a better understanding on both sides and ultimately more flexibility within the guidance to allow bonafide operators to continue with their business. The issue is still ongoing, but we are now
very close to becoming the first material stream to publish sector specific guidance to help wood recyclers and reprocessors gain an FPP for a standard permit, and are working with the EA on a list of acceptable alternative measures for operators who need more of a bespoke FPP, which allows them to move away from the initial guidance. Crucially, the EA has listened to our concerns
over the guidance, and has been willing to work with us to find solutions that work for operators whilst achieving the EA’s main goals of protecting the public and the environment. The fact that our sector has played such a huge role in bringing this issue to light is one we are very proud of. It shows a maturity and understanding among operators that may not have been as possible ten or 15 years ago.
46 NOVEMBER 2018
www.frmjournal.com
It also shows that the majority of the
operators in the sector are willing to work to a set of benchmarks in order to raise standards within the industry, as long as they are fair, proportionate and risk based. But why the urgency to get this so right for waste wood operators? It’s not just about keeping people in business, although that is a part of it. It is also about the important role waste wood plays in the UK’s economy and energy security.
Unprecedented growth
Over the past five years the waste wood sector has seen unprecedented growth. The effect of an increasing biomass market is already clearly evident: its demand rose to 1.7m tonnes in 2017 compared to 1.6m tonnes during 2016. In the main, this increase was offset by a fall of approximately 300,000 tonnes in waste wood exports, which stood at 300,000 tonnes in 2017 compared to 600,000 in 2016. During the next 12 months we are expecting
even more change, with several further large scale IED (Industrial Emissions Directive) Chapter IV WID (Waste Incineration Directive) compliant biomass plants due to enter commercial operations. These will demand in excess of an additional 1m tonnes of waste wood biomass fuel per year, and the total 3.4m tonnes of waste wood biomass predicted by 2019 represents around 2.9 TWh of annual domestic power production: that’s enough
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