bioeNErgy Case Study – Unthank Estate

Unthank Estate in the Tyne Valley was awarded over £17,000 through the bioeNErgy programme ro help transform it’s firewood buinsess into a large scale processing yard to help increase supply in the local area. The grant was used to purchase various items of firewood processing and delivery equipment, in the first stage of a phased investment plan.

Unthank Estate includes 600 acres of mixed woodland, managed by estate staff. Timber is extracted and transported to the firewood yard where it is sold in the round to partner firewood businesses, who utilise the estates processing and storage facilities and take responsibility for marketing and sales.

The business model allows the estate to focus on woodland management and extraction, and ensures a market for timber from the estate woodlands making long term management viable. Small local firewood businesses benefit from the high quality processing facilities without the need for large capital outlay. The project is an excellent example of local collaboration in the supply chain in an area where demand for firewood is very high.