Dartmoor Woodfuel Cooperative

The cost of creating biomass to generate heat and power can be expensive when you include the labour and machinery if not done at scale. Also, there is a substantial amount of under used, small areas of woodland in very rural areas that could supply biomass if a cost effective way could be found. Dartmoor Woodfuel co-operative was set up as an Industrial Provident Society in 2009 by a group of like-minded Dartmoor residents, each of who share a common interest in the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of their lifestyles on Dartmoor. Their intention is to unlock the potential of the small woodland resource available locally, thus reducing the transportation of bio-energy within the region and improving the bio-diversity of these woods. DWC provides knowledge, contractor, machinery and storage facilities to its members, The cooperative aims to 1) encourage local boiler installations and woodland owners to collaborate, 2) reduce carbon emissions by using sustainably managed woodlands and improving their bio-diversity and 3) develop public awareness of renewable energy and encourage eco-tourism around Dartmoor. Members forward pay for 2 years of fuel based on £50 per kW. Over the period this investment is paid back through the supply of biomass. DWC now has 30 members, all with boilers and has just turned a profit with a turnover of £300,000. Members are home owners, schools and elderly care facilities. They're storing 7,500 m3 of wood chip and 2,000 tonnes of timber.