Woody biomass

Probos views woody biomass as an important economic resource for underpinning management and maintenance of forests, natural areas, landscapes and of urban woodland. It is renewable, helps lower our dependence on fossil fuels and provides the raw material for an increasingly wide range of biobased manufacturing and construction products. Demand, consequently, is rising.

Sustainable biomass

Whether it is used as fuel or raw material, biomass should always be sourced sustainably. This means it has to be:
  • sourced from sustainably managed forest and other areas
  • cascaded through various forms and applications, meaning it is optimally deployed from an economic and climate perspective (so burning biomass is only acceptable if no other use is possible, such, in the case of timber, as a solid wood component, or wood-based sheet material)
  • used as close as possible to the source
  • produced without displacing food production
  • sourced with attention to
    • nutrient balance
    • the landscape
    • public support

Probos’ activities on biomass

We are involved in several areas of biomass development, including:

  • collating reliable data on production, use, import and export
  • evaluating and promoting sustainable and cost-effective harvesting methods
  • undertaking market research and feasibility studies
  • producing practical guides and technical literature
  • organising practical demonstrations and workshops