Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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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
APPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireIt should be noted that in the 'WestMidlands Non-Food Crops Opportunities'Draft report of July 2007, it states that:"…it is proposed to review the RuralRegeneration Zone plans to firmly alignenergy linked actions with priorities suchas renewable energy for off gas gridareas; for biomass digestion andcombustion CHP projects in publicbuildings; and links to the production ofenergy crops".Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) andEnergy CropsCrops grown specifically for biomassenergy generation include short-rotationwillow or poplar coppice, and miscanthusgrass. The crops are typically harvestedon a one-year cycle (Miscanthus) or athree-year cycle (short rotation coppicewillow). In terms of baseline information, itis difficult to assess the current level ofenergy crop production in the County.One reason for this is that NaturalEngland have received no applications forEnergy Crop Scheme (ECS) plantinggrants from within Worcestershire, whichwould be the natural means by whichuptake could be monitored.There is an obvious loss in the field areaavailable for food crops in developing thisresource, but moving to energy crops canrepresent a more viable use for farmland.Indeed, energy crops and their associatedsupply chains can help to ensure a strongrural economy, much of which will dependon agricultural diversification. The NFUhave asserted that significant energycould be generated from bioenergy cropswithout compromising food production,but this will have to be carefullyconsidered and could be affected by anincrease in the price of food imports.The UK Biomass Strategy has recognisedthe potential for negative effects arisingfrom the changes in land use fromagriculture to energy crops, and it statesthat: "We are keenly aware of theenvironmental risks from unsustainableproduction and damaging changes of landuse. We fully support the EU approach oflinking potential increases in biofueltargets to sustainability criteria. It is38Technical Research Paper
Page 2 and 3: TECHNICAL RESEARCH PAPERPlanning fo
Page 4 and 5: Executive SummaryGenerating energy
Page 6 and 7: SOCIAL BENEFITS OF RENEWABLEENERGY
Page 8 and 9: 1. Purpose1.1 This working paper is
Page 10 and 11: significant positive impact. Conser
Page 12 and 13: 3.1 An Energy White Paper, 'Meeting
Page 14 and 15: Regional3.10 The West Midlands Regi
Page 16 and 17: 4. Community Strategies, Climate Ch
Page 18 and 19: As mentioned elsewhere in this pape
Page 20 and 21: 5. Worcestershire’s Vulnerability
Page 22 and 23: 6. Renewable Energy and the Environ
Page 24 and 25: 6.10 Green belt designation covers
Page 26 and 27: 7. Social benefits of Renewable Ene
Page 28 and 29: 8.10 The economicbenefits of renewa
Page 30 and 31: Fig.1 - Responses to Questions 13(d
Page 32 and 33: 10. Baseline Data and Forecasts10.1
Page 34 and 35: 11. Technological Issues for Renewa
Page 36 and 37: 12. Infrastructure Requirements12.1
Page 38 and 39: 13.7 This research paper provides a
Page 40 and 41: Appendix A. Characteristics and App
Page 42 and 43: Domestic Micro Wind TurbinesDomesti
Page 46 and 47: acknowledged that increasing the su
Page 48 and 49: Ground/Water/Air Source HeatPumpsGr
Page 50 and 51: Biogas (Anaerobic Digestion)Biogas
Page 52 and 53: OpportunitiesFew planning obstacles
Page 54 and 55: OpportunitiesSignificant potential
Page 56 and 57: GROUND/AIR/WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPSO
Page 58 and 59: Appendix C. Example calculations of
Page 60 and 61: Appendix D. Maps of Predicted Incre
Page 62 and 63: Appendix E. Energy Saving Trust tab
Page 64 and 65: MAP OF DELIVERABLE WIND RESOURCEIN
Page 66 and 67: SOLAR IRRADIANCE AT DIFFERENTLOCATI
Page 68 and 69: MAP OF UPTAKE OF ENERGY CROP SCHEME
Page 70 and 71: FORESTRY COMMISSION WOODLAND OPPORT
Page 72 and 73: DISTRIBUTION OF WOODLAND OF OVER 2
Page 74 and 75: CO2 EMMISSIONS IN WORCESTERSHIRE IN
Page 76 and 77: CHANGE IN CO2 EMISSIONS IN WORCESTE
Page 78 and 79: TOTAL FINAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION AT L
Page 80 and 81: Appendix H. Sources of Further Info
Page 82 and 83: Further ReadingThe Assessment and R
Page 84 and 85: Rural Regeneration Zone Annual Repo
Page 86: This document can be made available

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