1. POTENTIAL FOR ENERGY FROM BIOMASS IN THE UK Alex McBurnie ENV-2E02 Energy Resources February 24 th 2005

2. INCLUDING / IGNORING LOOKING AT: Electricity Heat Transport 15-25 years in the future BUT NOT: Energy from Waste Which would include: Straw Hedge Clippings Sawmill Waste Which could provide much energy by themselves

3. ENERGY FROM EXISTING FORESTS 12% of Britain is woodland – 2.8 million hectares (Forestry Commission, 2004) By 2020 Britain will be producing 10 million tonnes a year more wood than is currently used – and demand is falling (RCEP, 2004) This level is sustainable assuming restocking matches or exceeds extraction

4. HOW MUCH ENERGY COULD THIS PRODUCE? 10 million tonnes of wood Energy Content Estimated 20 GJ / Tonne Will therefore contain (not accounting for energy used in extraction): - 200 million GJ - 200 PJ per Year

5. NEW PLANTING Wood Short Rotation Coppice -4 year cycle -20 year replacement Longer growth - 15 years Willow or Poplar Trees For heat, electricity and CHP production Non-wood Miscanthus Grass Oilseed rape for biodiesel Sugar beet for bioethanol 1 season cylce All have similar energy contents ~ 20GJ / tonne

6. USING SET-ASIDE LAND Under CAP an average (1999-2002) 640 ha land is under set-aside Much of this lies fallow At yields of 15 tonnes / hectare / year (conservative estimate) x 640 ha = 9600 tonnes per year So 10,000 tonnes per year realistic estimate

7. SET-ASIDE LAND CONTINUED… 10,000 tonnes x 20 GJ = 200,000 GJ 200,000 GJ = 0.2 PJ per Year

8. USING EXITING AGRICULTURAL LAND Grade 5 land largely too poor Grades 1, 2 & 3 best used for food production Grade 4 ideal for fuel crops

9. EXISTING LAND CONTINUED… Grades 4 = 16% of UK agricultural land NFU indicates 20% of UK crops are not needed for food Suggests that use of grade 4 land will have no effect on food supply

10. HOW MUCH? 16% of UK’s 18.5 million hectares agricultural land = 3 million hectares (roughly) At yields of 15 tonnes / hectare / year = 45 million tonnes Assuming 20 GJ per tonne this could produce 900 million GJ = 900 PJ per year

11. SUMMARY OF RAW ENERGY From exiting forests = 200 PJ From set-aside land = 0.2 PJ From agricultural land = 900 PJ Minus extraction and transport overheads of 0.2 GJ / tonne (from Thetford Forest practical) x 55,010,000 t = >12PJ Total = 1088.2 PJ per year

12. HOW WILL THIS BE USED? EFFICIENCIES CHP (or heat only) = 85% Straight electricity = 30% Road transport = 70% SO THE TOTAL USEABLE ENERGY PRODUCED COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 325 PJ and 925 PJ