1.  Geeta Wonnacott & Liam Kelly Environment & Rural Affairs Department

2.   air and water quality in Scotland are generally of a high standard  many important habitats are sensitive to acidification and eutrophication

3.  ERAD Commissioned Report - September 2006 Review of Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Emissions, Air Pollution Impacts and Economics of Biomass Production and Consumption in Scotland - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/20 06/09/22094104/0 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/20 06/09/22094104/0

4.  key findings :  Biomass combustion units such as wood- fired boilers – data on emissions is limited and variable. Some evidence of elevated emissions compared to gas boilers  Hard to evaluate the contribution of ammonia and NOx emissions from biomass production and transport

5.  bioenergy options tend to result in an increase in acidifying/eutrophying air pollutants which would be significant for Scotland given the high number of sensitive habitats. Important that abatement technologies are used alongside biofuels

6. 

7.  Need to look in detail at LCA of effects on environment of different biofuels – fertiliser and pesticide use, erosion, VOCs, emissions of PM, NH3 and NOx  Not always positive benefits compared to fossil fuels