In a press release from the DCCAE:

Naughten kick-starts Biomass and Biogas Sectors with introduction of Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD, is introducing a national Support Scheme for Renewable Heat after securing Government approval.

The Scheme is designed to financially support the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with renewable energy for large heat demand non-domestic users. This covers commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic businesses and sectors (in the non-emissions trading sector).

Minister Naughten said: "The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat is a tangible and viable measure that will kick-start the biomass and biogas sectors. Crucially it will provide the basis to create new commercial opportunities for farmers in heat technologies including biomass boiler installations and new opportunities for foresters. It will also contribute to meeting Ireland's 2020 renewable energy and emission reduction targets".

Under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland has a target of 12% of energy consumed in the heat sector to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Currently 6.8% of energy consumed in the heat sector in renewable.

Budget 2018 allocated €7 million to fund the initial phase of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat next year.

The Scheme is designed to ensure that air quality impacts will be addressed to support sustainable biomass use in installations, using best available technology and emission abatement.

The development of the Support Scheme involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and the publication of two public consultations on the design and implementation of the scheme.

"My Department received almost 200 submissions from the public and the final design of the scheme incorporates the findings from these submissions," added Minister Naughten.

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat will consist of two types of support mechanism:

o An on-going operational support (paid for a period up to 15 years) for new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system and convert to using biomass heating systems or anaerobic digestion heating systems

o A grant (of up to 30%) to support investment in renewable heating systems that use heat pumps.

The maximum tariffs paid will be 5.66 cents per kilowatt hour of energy produced from biomass heating systems and 2.95 cents per kilowatt hour of energy produced from anaerobic digestion heating systems. The tariffs paid will reduce with increasing output reflecting the economy of scale associated with larger systems.

The Minister added: "The economic analysis shows that biomass and anaerobic digestion have a significant role to play in Ireland's renewable energy future."

Other technologies and methods of support are under consideration, including biomethane grid injection, for subsequent phases of the Scheme.

The Minister noted: "The production of biomethane from anaerobic digestion and its injection into the natural gas grid has significant potential in Ireland. In addition to being a source of renewable energy, it can also provide an outlet for farm wastes. My Department continues to examine how best to support biomethane production and, as part of this work, we will be holding a workshop with industry early in the new year."

Highlighting the budgetary control measures in place, Minister Naughten added: "The lessons learned from schemes in other jurisdictions have been included in the design of this support scheme. In particular, there are eligibility criteria that projects must conform to over the period of support payments. These criteria will ensure that heat generated under the Scheme is applied to useful purposes only. In addition, there are a number of budgetary controls in order to control overall costs including project budget caps, a Scheme budget cap and periodic reviews to prevent windfall gains."

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will administer the Scheme and develop the detailed Terms and Conditions, including eligibility and sustainability criteria and these must be approved by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Minister Naughten concluded: "Securing Cabinet approval this week was a key milestone in order to move to the next stage of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat which will provide an opportunity for growth in the domestic biomass sector."

Green Belt is truly delighted to be working with the management of Farnham Estate Spa and Golf Resort.

We will be working closely with the management team on site to provide a full and complete service with respect to their 185 hectares of forestry. What makes this forestry estate so special and unique is the age and beauty of the parklands setting and the maturity and majesty of the trees across the estate.

There are various compartments across the estate which have been managed to various levels over its lifetime. Green Belt is taking charge of the management of the mature woodlands and ensuring the long term, sustainable future of this forestry through proactive management.

First port of call was to accurately assess each of the stands on site and to create a detailed inventory of the standing timber. Secondly we assessed the areas that had been clearfelled previously and we set about replanting these.

Of course, based on the nature of the core business of Farnham estate, we were conscious of maintaining the beautiful walks that exist around the three lakes on the estate. The natural beauty of these walks is both breathtaking and serene and offers a wonderful opportunity to feel peace and tranquility. Working with the estate managers, we set about maintaining and enhancing these features. Work on these areas needed to be worthwhile and sensitive to the environs. Certain areas are going to be greatly improved by reafforestation and plots of new forestry will further improve the soil quality and vista around the location.

Green Belt employs numerous local contractors for the works being carried out and, being a Cavan based company, we were absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the estate.

Private estate management has always been a part of the Green Belt arsenal, but recently we have developed our expertise considerably through the management of vast areas of private woodland estates across Ireland - including Cahercon Estate in County Clare and some very important estates in Wicklow, Leitrim and Cavan.

We will be updating our Farnham reports continuously so you can keep an eye on progress. Of course, there's nothing like seeing it in the flesh, so visit the estate at your earliest opportunity.

The Irish Independeny published theis article on the continued use of Glyphosate.

The European Commission is set to debate the re-authorisation of the world’s most commonly used herbicide, glyphosate the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup product, for up to 15 years. [more]

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told Agra Europe that the College of Commissioners will meet on Wednesday, where they will debate the potential re-authorisation for glyphosate.

In recent weeks the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) said that there is not enough evidence to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, paving the way for the chemical's re-authorisation.

While its Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) agreed to maintain the current harmonised classification of glyphosate as a substance causing serious eye damage and being toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects, it concluded that the available scientific evidence did not meet the criteria to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, as a mutagen or as toxic for reproduction.

Glyphosate is most commonly known as the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller and this week's debate comes after months of wrangling over whether Europe would curtail the availability of glyphosate. Last July the EU temporally extended by 18 months the availability of glyphosate.

Farmers are highly reliant on the use of glyphosate for weed control and a decision to re-authorise will come as a major relief for those in the tillage sector.

However, any such move will face vocal opposition. Reacting to the news, that there is not enough evidence to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen, Greenpeace said the ECHA “sweeps glyphosate cancer evidence under the carpet”.

Copa-Cogeca, the European farming organisation, welcomed the decision, saying that glyphosate is "an essential part of the farmer's toolkit".

The adopted opinion on the harmonised classification for glyphosate will be taken into account when the Commission and Member States consider whether to renew the approval to use glyphosate as an active substance in pesticides, later this year.

RAC provides an independent scientific opinion on the hazard classification of the substance. The classification is based solely on the hazardous properties of the substance.

It does not take into account the likelihood of exposure to the substance and therefore does not address the risks of exposure. The risks posed by exposure are considered, for example, when deciding whether to renew the approval of glyphosate as a pesticide in accordance with the EU’s Plant Protection Product Regulation.

The Forest Service have issued weather warnings about the potential for forest fires this week due to a period of high pressure weather leading to a higher risk potential for forest fires. Please see the dowload issued by the forest service about this.

Många undrar om det verkligen är säkert att köpa potensläkemedel på nätet, särskilt om de inte vill gå via traditionell vård. Svaret är: ja – om man vet var man ska vända sig. Genom att välja ett etablerat apotek med goda omdömen kan man både spara tid och undvika obekväma situationer. En av de vanligaste sökningarna gäller Levitra utan recept, eftersom det ger snabb tillgång till behandling utan krav på läkarbesök. Produkten är populär för sin snabba effekt och låga biverkningsprofil. När man hittar rätt balans mellan kvalitet, säkerhet och tillgänglighet, försvinner mycket av osäkerheten. Det handlar i grunden om att ta sin hälsa på allvar – på sina egna villkor.

Take particular notice of the advice about fires and farming.

Dasos Capital in partnership with the EIB and ISIF are heading up a forestry fund in Ireland of €112 million

Green Belt, Ireland's largest private forestry group are proud to be working for Dasos, as one of the maangers with responsibility for assessment, acquisition and management of the relevant properties. Quality, species and access are important requirements when considering each purchase. Ideally, areas of Sitka Spruce no less than 40 acres are to be considered and a similar area for land purchases.

Green belt will assess the land and/ or forest and a realsitic market price can be negotiated. We would urge those considering selling land and/ or forestry to have title documents prepared or in the process of being prepared through their solicitors. This will significantly improve closing time.

We have seen many parties who planted in the last 15 - 20 years seek to sell their forestry having enjoyed the generous premium. Now many are looking to reinvest the monies from the sale of their forestry into either new plantations or other ventures.

If you would like a conversation about selling your land or your forestry, please call Maurice Ryan on 087 675 3097.