This is definitely the way to go for reliable renewable energy in the Highlands and not the wind power route.
It provides more jobs per megawat generated, is far less obtrusive and many times more reliable.

The raw material, low grade wood which would otherwise be wasted or be loss making as it is too far from alternative markets, is from well managed sustainable forests and is close at hand.

More of these please and less of those windy things.

It's good to see renewables that work in all weathers. I suppose that a joined up national energy policy would still be too much to ask for though.

Agreed Martin. We need much more of this kind of initiative and less lies and spin from the nukes.
The concept of a national grid with unsightly pylons, with us all taking power from a half dozen large reactors is bonkers. Especially with so many mad mullahs who want us dead. they only need to be lucky once with nuclear.
Why on earth are new build public buildings especially schools not utilising renewable technologies.
See here for more, it can be done.

http://www.pure.shetland.co.uk/

This is a commendable development, and I hope there will be many more to come.

Does wood burning contribute to CO2 emissions? Can someone explain why is this so environment friendly? it could become the monster that consumes all the trees in Scotland

18 megawatts is pretty small. It will generate "organic" CO2 that is the trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere to make wood and it is returned when the tree is burned. However remember Henry 8th commissioned a fireplace expert to improve the efficiency of the english fireplace as they were running out of wood. In Scotland it takes a long time for a tree to grow so there will not be many of these power stations around

You guys don't have enough trees.

Scotland has 1,050,000 hectares of conifers (source: Forestry Commission: "FORESTRY FACTS & FIGURES 2005"). Enough to keep a few small combined heat and power stations going? Why not use wood (and other agricultural) waste alongside wind and wave power?

This report sounds promising, but can anyone give me some more facts & figures on the power output v area of (forested) land required to support that power?