Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

APPENDIX B ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireOpportunitiesSignificant potential woodfuel resource(see Strategy, FC etc).Halcrow study suggests formula forenergy crops of 'all set-aside land + 10%of arable land'.Long-term local job creation: production,distribution, installation, maintenance,etc.Suitable for large buildings and housingdevelopmentsSuccessful example exists in County(WCC boiler).Power can be supplied continuously -not dependent on weather conditions,etc.Funding streams have been identified,e.g. within Wyre Forest LandscapeStrategy.LARGE SCALE BIOMASS/CHPConstraintsEnd-user must be close to sourceBoiler systems physically larger andmore expensive than fossil fuelequivalentsBiomass fuel must be stored at the pointof usageDelivery must be arranged andscheduledInappropriate for flats unless oncombined district heating scheme, dueto space constraints.More suited to supplying heat thanpower - electrical output can be low.Likely to be reliant on road deliveries,which could be delayed or cancelled inextreme winter weather conditions,which would be when the fuel wasneeded most.Marches Wood Energy Network &Midlands Wood Fuel Ltd alreadyestablished and operational inWorcestershire. Developing wood-fuelprocess/delivery mechanism basedaround wood fuel 'depots' on farms.Energy crop grants are available fromDEFRA under the England RuralDevelopment Programme (Energy CropsScheme).Limited availability of contractors toundertake harvesting/processing.Creation of smoke may have air qualityimplications and may not be suitable in'smoke-free zones'.*See Research note on woodfuel in Wyre Forest:http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/RIN711.pdf46Technical Research Paper