A SWEDISH firm which provides wood for energy has opened a European outpost in York.

Renewable Fuels Ltd (RFL), partly owned by the Swedish company Agrobrnsle AB, which is leading the development of short rotation coppice (SRC), has moved into the Escrick Park Estate.

Its aim: To become the UK and European leader in the supply of "biomass" fuels.

The new five-person operation was announced today by york-england.com, the newly-broadened inward investment board.

Heading up RFL are chief executive Bob Smith, former fuel supply manager for ARBRE Energy, Andrew Oldridge, farm liaison manager and Kevin Lindegaard, technical development manager.

The new company will provide Britain's first link between energy producers and wood suppliers, particularly short-rotation coppiced willow for use as processed fuel.

It will also advise and support small and large end-users in the UK and plans to undertake further research into environmentally sustainable forms of energy supply.

Immediately RFL set to work co-operating with several major power providers, including Drax and Eggborough, to create renewable energy from the co-firing of coal with wood chips, olive oil residues and palm shells.

It is also linking arms with the Renewable Energy Growers' producer group to secure a market for woodchip produced from this winter's SRC willow harvest. The producer group has recently imported a sugar cane harvester from Australia and is harvesting 600 hectares of willow in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

Mr Smith said: "We believe that we have unsurpassed experience of the UK energy crops scene from both an R&D and a commercial standpoint. It is our aim to become UK and European leaders in the supply of biomass fuels, and we are delighted to be at the forefront of this green revolution."

Dave Taylor, marketing director of york-england.com, welcomed RFL's drive to help Britain produce more energy from renewable resources.

He hoped that "the company's research and consultancy will benefit farmers in North Yorkshire as we move towards alternative energy production using willow as a source of fuel."

Anna Rooke, manager of Science City York, said: "A great deal of research has already been done in York to investigate new uses for crops and this is starting to pay dividends.

"It is great news to see RFL emerge as a new company helping to commercialise biomass as an energy source in the UK so that we can produce energy in a less environmentally-damaging way."

Updated: 09:40 Tuesday, December 09, 2003