Delivering Sustainable Bioenergy Presentation by Sarah Young Land Use Consultants 17th April 2007

Outline of presentation What is bioenergy? How much energy is currently produced from bioenergy? What is the scale of the opportunity? Can bioenergy really contribute towards reducing CO2? What are the environmental impacts of bioenergy production?

1. What is bioenergy? Bioenergy is the inclusive term for all forms of biomass and biofuels Biomass: refers to the use of biodegradable matter as a source of renewable heat or electricity Biofuels: are renewable transport fuels including: Bioethanol Biodiesel Biogas Biobutanol

What are the main sources of bioenergy? Bioenergy (in the form of biomass or biofuels) can be generated from four principle sources: Woodfuels e.g. short rotation coppice (SRC) and short rotation forestry (SRF), forest residues and low grade timber Perennial grass crops e.g. miscanthus Conventional annual crops e.g. sugar beet, cereal crops, sorghum, oil seed rape, linseed and sunflowers Waste e.g. cow and pig slurry, poultry litter and wood waste SRC plantation Miscanthus Oilseed rape

2. How much energy is currently produced from bioenergy?

3. What is the scale of the opportunity? The Government suggests that bioenergy could provide: 5-6% of the UK’s electricity supply by 2020 (currently1.5%) 7% of the heat market by 2015 (currently 1%) 5% of the UK’s transport fuel demands by 2010 (currently 0.25%) Woodfuel strategy for England suggests there is the potential to use an extra 2 million tonnes of wood from existing woodland alone Resource map of Forestry residues in GB

How will this be realised? Straw, waste wood and woodfuel have the greatest immediate potential to contribute to renewable heat and power Short rotation coppice and miscanthus offer significant potential in the longer term but this will require a significant change in land-use In the medium to long term, the development of new conversion technologies will favour the more carbon-efficient multi-annual crops (woodfuels, SRC and miscanthus) and reduce the demand for oilseed rape and wheat as biofuels

Existing bioenergy use Wood Based Fuels Perennial Grasses Waste Conventional Crops Electricity and Heat Transport

but with second generation biofuels….. Wood Based Fuels Perennial Grasses Waste Conventional Crops Electricity and Heat Transport

4. Can biomass really contribute towards reducing CO2? Electricity Generation % of green house gas savings versus fossil fuel reference Grid Electricity Electricity from miscanthus 84% Electricity from SRC woodchip Electricity from forest residue 86% Electricity from straw 59% Small Scale Heating Oil fired heating boiler - Combustion of woodchip 93% Source: Defra from: Carbon and energy balances for a range of biofuels options, Sheffield Hallam University (2003); and WTW evaluation for production of ethanol from wheat, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, (2004),

Can biofuels really contribute towards reducing CO2? Transport Fuels % saving in GHG versus fossil fuel reference Source: Sheffield Hallam Univ. (2003) & Low CVP (2004) Source: E4tech (May 2006) Diesel (ultra low sulphur) Biodiesel (from oil seed rape) 53% 38 -57% Biodiesel from recycled vegetable oil 85% - Second generation diesel 94% Petrol (ultra low sulphur) Ethanol from wheat grains 49-67% 7-77% Ethanol from sugar beet 54% 32-64% Ethanol from wheat straw

Conclusions on carbon savings Carbon savings are difficult to predict as they are affected by agricultural practice, production, processing methods and transportation of the feedstock The most carbon efficient conversion technologies are those that produce heat or CHP directly from the energy crop rather than those that produce electricity Superior carbon savings can be achieved from second generation biofuels produced from biomass In addition, the estimated yield per hectare from second generation feedstock is at least three times greater than that of rapeseed biomass

5. What are the environmental impacts of bioenergy? Range of impacts both positive and negative that arise from use of bioenergy Focus on: Wood based fuels: short rotation coppice (SRC) short rotation forestry (SRF) forest residues and low grade timber Not covering….. Perennial grass crops Conventional annual crops Waste

What is short rotation coppice? Densely planted, high yielding varieties of either willow or popular Harvested on average every 2-5 years Expected lifespan of 15-25 years (corresponding to around 6 harvests) Shoots usually harvested during the winter as chips, short billets or as whole stems Yields from SRC at first harvest range from 7-12 tonnes dry weight/ha/yr

What are the environmental impacts of SRC? Threats Opportunities Landscape change in landscape character obscure landscape features add structural diversity restore and reinstate boundary features Biodiversity displace open farmland bird species damage sensitive wetland habitats increase abundance/diversity ground flora farmland bird species and invertebrates provide habitat for small mammals buffer woodlands and vulnerable habitats Water high water requirements improve water quality tackle nitrate pollution problems treat wastewater Soil soil compaction reduce soil erosion and sedimentation problems Archaeology damage archaeological sites and deposits

Management recommendations for SRC Do: Benefits: use mixed species biodiversity, landscape incorporate headlands, rides & open spaces biodiversity, landscape locate to minimise transport reduce CO2 coppice cyclically biodiversity, landscape limit use of fertiliser, herbicides & pesticides biodiversity, water quality Don’t: Impacts: establish large monoculture blocks biodiversity, landscape replace land of high value for biodiversity biodiversity plant in low rainfall areas or on waterlogged soils biodiversity block recreational access well-being plant on sites of archaeological interest heritage

What is short rotation forestry? Cultivation of fast-growing trees that reach their economically optimum size between 8-20 years old When felled - replaced by new planting or regenerate from stumps as coppice Varieties may include native species such as alder, ash, birch, poplar, sycamore (cultivars), and non-native species such as eucalyptus and southern beech (nothofagus)

What are the environmental impacts of SRF? Threats Opportunities Landscape non native species - impact on landscape character inappropriate in some open landscapes creation of new native broadleaved woodland expansion of existing woodland Biodiversity trees with dense canopies – discourage ground feeding birds displace birds adapted to open habitats increase biodiversity if native species used understorey vegetation can provide habitat for invertebrate and mammal species increase abundance/diversity woodland birds Water non-native species- high water requirements lower inputs required – reduce nitrate pollution Soil soil compaction during harvesting stabilising impact - reduce soil erosion Archaeology root growth - damage archaeological sites and deposits

Management recommendations for SRF Do: Benefits: incorporate 10-20% of open space biodiversity, landscape leave some areas to mature to old age biodiversity maximise diversity of woodland structure biodiversity, landscape harvest cyclically biodiversity, landscape use UK Woodland Assurance Standard biodiversity, water quality Don’t: Impacts: plant in sensitive open landscapes biodiversity, landscape use non-native species biodiversity use exceptionally heavy equipment soil structure, water harvest forests on high carbon soils release CO2 plant on sites of archaeological interest heritage

What are forest residues and low grade timber? Forest residues - harvesting residues (i.e. lop and top or brash) and small roundwood (i.e. small stems of no commercial value) Low grade timber - poor quality final crop and wood from unmanaged coppice Demand for woodfuel for bioenergy has the potential to create an economic rationale for the re-introduction of traditional sustainable woodland management

What are the environmental impacts of forest residues and LGT? Threats Opportunities Landscape visual impact of new access tracks perception of rapid changes to landscape diversification of age structure of woodlands (reduce storm damage) restoration of historic coppiced landscapes Biodiversity depletion of nutrients deprivation of food and habitat for small invertebrates, invertebrates, fungi and bats etc inadequate regeneration following cutting due to deer diversification of woodland structure increase in edge and ride habitats increase in ground flora by reduction in shadiness thinning or felling of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) restoration of neglected coppice woodlands removal of invasive scrub and trees removal of rhododendron and other invasive species from open habitats

What are the environmental impacts of forest residues and LGT? Threats Opportunities Water increased runoff and impaired water quality increased sedimentation of water courses Soil damage to woodland soils increased susceptibility to soil erosion after harvesting counter 20th century increase in nitrogen and potassium levels in soils establishment ground cover – reduce soil erosion Archaeology heavy machinery and creation of woodland tracks - damage to archaeological sites reduced risk of windblow disturbing remains

Management recommendations for forest residues and LGT Do: Benefits: adapt extraction rate to suit soil/ biodiversity biodiversity, soils undertake checks for protected species biodiversity increase structural diversity of woodland biodiversity, landscape leave some forest brash/ cut wood biodiversity, soil & water use UK Woodland Assurance Standard biodiversity, water quality Don’t: Impacts: use exceptionally heavy harvesting equipment soil structure, water extract deadwood biodiversity whole tree harvest on sensitive sites biodiversity, soil

Conclusions Production of bioenergy from wood sources – offers real potential to reduce greenhouse gases and deliver substantial environmental benefits however …… Risk of placing environmental pressure on our limited natural resources To realise opportunities, it is crucial that bioenergy is produced sustainably. We must ensure that we: - deliver real carbon savings - avoid sensitive sites - place particular emphasis on securing the future management of semi-natural woodland - use high environmental standards to maximise environmental benefits