Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

Forests and WoodlandThe potential of forests and woodland asa source of biomass energy is dependenton a number of factors. These are chieflythe availability of sufficient wood arisings;the ownership of the woodland; and theeconomic viability, which will depend on acontinuing market demand.There is a sizeable amount of wastewood arising from the management ofwoodlands, which together with unwantedwood from parks, hedges, etc., could forma vast potential resource in the Countythat could make a significant contributionto generating renewable energy andreducing carbon emissions.Sustainable woodland management canalso provide a significant increase in thequantity of low value wood, such as thatarising from thinning. Where the demandfor biomass fuel is the driver for bringingunder-managed woodland intosustainable management, this can lead towider benefits to biodiversity andrecreation, as well as economicadvantages.Biomass has significant potential incommunity/district heating schemes,although there are no known schemes ofthis nature currently operating withinWorcestershire. District heat networksare unlikely to be retrofitted withinexisting developments, but can beintegrated into new developments at thedesign stage, and successful examplesexist such as at Hoathly Hill Community,West Sussex.Land ownership issues could present adifficulty when establishing wood energysources. Across Herefordshire &Worcestershire, 15% of woodland over 2hectares is under the ownership of theForestry Commission, who have taken aparticularly pro-active approach towardsthe possibilities of biomass for energygeneration. This does, however, leave aremainder of 85% that is owned byothers, made up of one or more of thefollowing groups: personal; privateforestry or timber business; other privatebusiness; local authority; other publicbodies; charitable organisations; and/orcommunity ownership or common land.The Government has signalled thatalongside the benefits of biomassproduction, creating more managedwoodland would also benefit theenvironment, stating that: "Expanding thetotal area of woodland and bringingundermanaged woodland back intomanagement will also improve localbiodiversity". (Extract from paragraph 3.4,UK Biomass Strategy 2007)The Regional Forestry Framework,Growing our Future, aims to move woodenergy from a minor activity to arecognised niche market, and to make asignificant contribution to West Midlandsenergy supply for business, public sectorand domestic markets. These aims arebeing taken forward in Worcestershirethrough the Growing our Future DeliveryPlan 2006-2009.There already exists a local driver in theCounty in the form of the Wyre ForestStudy Group, which was set up as one offour pilot projects to investigate marketdevelopment. The group recommended"A Wood Energy Project to develop asustainable heat system based on usingwood fuel. This will be included in thedesign of the new Visitor Centre withfurther examples in the wider communitysuch as heating systems in CommunityHalls. It is hoped that success here willcreate a market for these wood productsthat will result from the woodlandreversion process throughout Wyre".(Management of Wyre Forest, WyreForest Study Group, Richard Boles).APPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireTechnical Research Paper 37