Trees for Biomass/Energy
- Consequences of the current fall in energy prices
Wink Sutton, May 2015
On 17 December 2014 the New Zealand ethical investment company Prometheus collapsed and was put into receivership. The company invested in renewable energy areas such as bioenergy, solar and wind…
- The need for fuel wood
Wink Sutton, November 2014
On a recent cruise we visited several countries in the Middle East including India and Egypt. As a forester I was well aware of the absence of trees but very…
- Developing a wood energy industry in Central Otago
Rhys Millar, August 2014
Wood energy for heating has been around for a long time and most New Zealanders will be familiar with drying and storing wood for winter, preparing and starting the fire,…
- Realising the opportunities for biofuels and bioproducts
Peter Morgan, August 2012
The one-day conference I attended was mainly about bringing together as many existing and potential stakeholders in all areas of bio-activity as they relate to the forest industry sector. Presentations…
- Bioenergy demonstration planting, Bay of Plenty
Ian Nicholas and Kevin Snowdon, May 2011
As part of a Sustainable Farming Fund project evaluating willow as a feedstock for ethanol production in the Taupo area, a demonstration planting was established in 2006 on Whakapoungakau Lands…
- Hardwood in effluent schemes
Ian Nicholas, Angus Gordon, Stephen Pearce and Marie Heaphy, November 2010
The treatment of waste water is of increasing value to land managers, local councils and small communities in New Zealand. Trees have been used for waste water treatment at various…
- Willow biomass in the Taupo region
Ian Nicholas, Kevin Snowdon and Ian McIvor, November 2010
The growth of shrub willows have been investigated for bioenergy and as a biopolymer resource in the Taupo area since 2004. Background information and some results have been presented in…
- Energy farming with willow near Taupo
Ian McIvor, Ian Nicholas and Kevin Snowdon, February 2009
The end of cheap oil now is a reality and there is growing evidence of the connection between climate change and carbon emissions’, wrote David Wright, chairman of the New…
- Forest residues for bioenergy
Peter Hall, November 2007
After forest harvesting there is inevitably material left behind that is not suitable for selling as logs. Rather than leave this to rot, there are a number of ways in…
- Short rotation coppice willow as low carbon bioenergy farming
Ian McIvor, November 2007
Bioenergy is not new. Before the invention of the steam engine and internal combustion engine society was dependent on horsepower of a different kind − the real horsepower. Horses needed biofuel…
- Biofuel from biomass – a future opportunity?
Rick Swan, November 2006
Apart from a brief respite in the price of oil in recent months, the price has generally been escalating. There is reason to believe that peak oil production has been…
- Transitioning to a low carbon energy future: Brian Cox's Blog, June 27, 2019
The talk of transitioning to a low carbon energy future seems to be more about continuing the status quo rather than actually having a transformation. It seems also to be…
- Christchurch hospital will soon be using biomass fuel: Brian Cox's Blog, March 11, 2019
The decision by the Canterbury District Health Board and the Government to install two biomass fuelled boilers at Christchurch hospital to replace the existing coal fuelled boilers demonstrates the increasing…
- Residues as fuel: Brian Cox's Blog, February 18, 2019
The decision by the Government of British Columbia to introduce policy reforms which require greater added value processing of wood within Canada, rather than export of unprocessed logs, shows that…
- Biomass as energy: Rik Deaton's Blog, September 05, 2016
I have a strong interest in the biomass-as-energy-source sector of renewable energy generation and I see it as inevitable that this country’s incomprehensible barriers to uptake will shortly be torn…
- New strategies for expansion of the bioenergy and biofuels market: Brian Cox's Blog, August 17, 2016
Recent work to identify the amount of greenhouse gas emission reductions that the bioenergy sector could contribute to achievement of the Paris climate change emission reduction targets has shown that…
- Bioenergy opportunities for New Zealand's future energy needs
Bioenergy Association (Press release),
September 2010 (Access: unrestricted)
Within 30 years, more than a quarter of New Zealand's energy needs and nearly a third of our transport fuels could come from energy crops and materials that are currently…
- Govt now needs to focus on its Energy Efficiency Strategy June 2017
The Bioenergy Association says it’s pleased the Government’s refresh of the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NZEECS) focuses on the heat and transport opportunities available across New Zealand…
- Energy from wood is good for NZ and the climate
Scion, August 2018
- Bioenergy options for New Zealand: Research and development strategy
Jack, M. and P. Hall (2009).
- Wood energy, EECA business
- Energy Farming with Willow in New Zealand
Snowdon, K., McIvor, I., & Nicholas, I. (2010).
SFF project report reviewing the potential for willow grown for biomass as a farm crop, especially around Lake Taupo.
- Bioenergy from sustainable forestry: Principles and practice. Proceedings of IEA Bioenergy Task 18 Workshop, 16-20 October, 2000, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
FRI Bulletin No. 223, Richardson, J., R. Bjorheden, P. Hakkila, A. T. Lowe and C. T. Smith (2000)
- Developing systems for integrating bioenergy into environmentally sustainable forestry: Proceedings of the International Energy Agency, Bioenergy Agreement Task 18, 7-11 September 1998, Nokia, Finland
FRI Bulletin No. 211, Lowe, A. T. and C. T. Smith (1999).
- The firewood venture: Planning, execution, evaluation
FRI Bulletin No. 137. Shula, R. G., A. E. Hay and G. L. Tarlton, 1993
Farm Forestry - Headlines
Article archive »
- Forest Owners says extra planting ‘just as well’ given slippage on carbon reduction targets
Friday, October 15, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is saying that foresters’ intentions to plant more trees is an immediate and practical insurance against New Zealand not achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Association…
- EDS attack on forestry ignores threat of climate change
Friday, September 17, 2021
The forest industry is calling a media statement from the Environmental Defence Society an ill-informed rant against forestry which ignores the threat of climate change. Forest Owners Association President, Phil…
- East Coast Councils’ anti-forestry drive environmentally and economically destructive
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Foresters are calling a proposed anti-forestry coalition of local bodies a prejudiced step backwards in time and destructive for their communities both environmentally and economically. The mayors of Tararua and…
- Recognition for Forestry's Highest Achievers in 2021.
Monday, August 23, 2021
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has announced the winners of its prestigious 2021 awards. In what has been an exceptionally volatile year for many, the forestry sector remains a significant…
- Forest Owners welcome Te Uru Rakau appointment
Monday, August 09, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the appointment of Jason Wilson to head Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service, is absolutely appropriate for the huge challenges and opportunities facing…
- Foresters say afforestation report raises more questions than it answers
Wednesday, August 04, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the Beef+Lamb commissioned survey on forest planting rates is nowhere near robust nor detailed enough to draw a conclusion that the government should impose controls…
- Pressure mounting across entire forestry supply chain as port build ups highlight issues
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Forestry Industry Contractors Association (FICA) is calling for an all of forestry strategy to deal with the mounting pressure on the entire forestry supply chain, currently being highlighted by build-ups…
- Forest Owners sharing primary sector concerns
Thursday, July 15, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is sympathising with some farmer frustrations over the pace of regulations being imposed on the primary sector. Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor says the time…
- Forest Owners say production trees are potentially farming’s biggest friend
Tuesday, July 06, 2021
The President of the Forest Owners Association has told delegates to the Primary Industries Summit in Christchurch that forestry offers many opportunities for farmers. He said trees versus food production…
- Commission’s ETS change risks forest planting targets
Tuesday, June 08, 2021
The forest industry says the Climate Change Commission is risking forest planting rates by stating that the current Emissions Trading Scheme ‘will incentivise more production forestry than needed.’ The final…
- Forest owners say forests are productive and vital in meeting climate change goals
Monday, May 17, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the Federated Farmers’ call for the government to restrict forest planting ranks as an unnecessary intrusion on the right of farmers to plant trees on…
- Te Uru Rakau – NZ Forest Service explores biofuels as a major opportunity for New Zealand
Monday, May 10, 2021
Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is laying the foundations for a new biofuels industry, to turn forestry waste into a potential billion-dollar industry, and working on a…
- KTM Supreme Winner at Forestry Awards
Monday, May 10, 2021
The best of best in the region’s forestry industry were toasted at a sell-out Southern North Island Wood Council Training Awards dinner last night. The supreme winner, found from the…
- Greater role for a public forestry service
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Media Statement from Hon Stuart Nash Minister of Forestry A greater role for a public forestry service has been outlined by the Forestry Minister, to drive the focus on regional…
- Expansion of Forest Service role a vital move
Thursday, April 29, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the just announced creation of Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service heralds the potential to fix vital bottlenecks in the initial stages of the forest industry…
- Plantation forestry ranks best for land use
Thursday, April 15, 2021
The just released Ministry for the Environment’s latest environmental report scores exotic forestry highly for its low impact on soils. The MfE report identified exotic forests as the land use by far…
- The NZIF Foundation Awards & Scholarship Applications Now Open
Thursday, April 15, 2021
The NZIF Foundation is offering the following awards in 2021: Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000 Up to two scholarships available Otago Southland Award One or…
- Foresters celebrate scooping primary industry awards
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says taking out three of the four category prizes in the Primary Industries’ Good Employer Awards this week is a sign the forest sector has come…
- Log supply not the cause of timber shortage
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Forest organisations have joined to reject statements that the current shortage of framing timber is caused by foresters selling logs to China and not leaving enough timber to be processed…
- Farm Foresters fired up to play a role in land use issues.
Monday, March 29, 2021
Farm foresters are now excited and fully informed to play a role in helping role solve NZ land use issues says the incoming association president, Graham West. They have just…
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