Contents
Background
In 2008 Forestry Commission England (FCE) was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to manage a three year, £1.5 million, research project to examine the feasibility of Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) as a viable renewable energy source.
The project will provide scientific data on hydrology, carbon balance, economic viability and possible environmental risks, such as the impact of SRF on landscape and biodiversity.
The UK has signed up to the EURenewable Energy Directive which includes as UK target of 15 percent of energy from renewables by 2020. This target is equivalent to a seven-fold increase in UK renewabel energy consumption from 2008 levels: the most challencing of any EU Member State. Shile such an increase is ambitious, and will be challenging, biomass will play a key part in it's delivery. It will also help to deliver the decarbonisation of the energy sector identified by the Committee on Climate Change's first report as a priority if the challenging greenhouse gas emissions targets set in the Climate Change Act are to be met.
Energy companies are interested in the potential for fast growing tree species to be used to provide a solid fuel for electricity generation, in particular Eucalyptus. SRF grows quickly and can be harvested at between 5 and 15 years of age offering high yields in a short space of time - potentially giving better energy returns than either traditional forestry, woody crops grown as coppice (short rotation coppice / SRC) or Miscanthus grass - and provides material suitable for conversion to both electricity and heat. Currently a range of potential SRF crops, including Eucalyptus, is not eligible for grant aid under the Energy Crops Scheme, which does support SRC (using willow and poplar and miscanthus.
In 2006 the Forestry Commission and Defra commissioned A Report into the Potential Impacts of Short Rotation Forestry, prepared by Pat Hardcastle . One of the recommendations was that operational scale trials be established in order to evaluate the environmental integrity of planting SRF.
Purpose of trials
The purpose of the research is to establish the viability, feasibility, sustainability and appropriateness of SRF as a renewable energy source in England using a range of fast-growing species that have shown potential to be used as a biomass energy fuel.
An additional objective is to inform regulatory processes for any future commercial scale plantings.
This will be achieved by:
- Setting up:
(a) Six intensive field trials on bare, mainly agricultural land to provide data on the environmental effects, growth and carbon balance of either seven or eight of the most promising species/provenances, and
(b) spacing trials, and
(c) six extensive trials, i.e. larger commercial-scale plantings to provide further data on environmental impacts and data on operational techniques and costs. These plots will be planted predominently with Eucalyptus nitens (shining gum).
- Synthesising relevant information from existing literature and existing stands of fast-growing broadleaved species in England. New data collection from these sites will enable preliminary conclusions on some aspects of environmental impact to be drawn within the timeframe of the project, and many years earlier than if the project had been restricted to the new trials.
- Assessing the environmental impacts including landscape, archaeology, hydrology, and biodiversity.
- Reporting progress regularly to a steering group and publishing a written final report and executive summary.
- Submitting recommendations for a further phase, including ongoing maintenance and subsequent harvesting, to realise the project's long term potential.
The trial complements a similar series of trials being established in Scotland.
Outputs
As well as progress and final reports other outputs include:
- Informing policy and regulatory processes (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Felling Regulations)
- Cost benefit analysis and assessment of economic/commercial viability
- Best Practice Guidance
Funding
Total funding, provided by DECC, of £1.5 million is available (£500,000 each year). The funding is designed to support four elements of the trial:
- The Project Manager
- Forest Research - the research agency of the Forestry Commission carrying out the research - costs (monitoring programme)
- Establishment including ground preparation, planting, protection and maintenance
- A contribution to ground rental as necessary
Sites and tree species
Sites, which are generally on "marginal" agricultural land and include former arable and pasture, have been selected across a range of geographical areas in England with a variety of climatic and soil conditions in:
Northern Cumbria, close to the Scottish border
West Yorkshire, near Wetherby
South Lincolnshire, near Stamford
Oxfordshire, near Didcot
West Sussex, near Horsham
South Devon, near Totnes
Kent, near Westerham
The sites vary in size, the largest being over 19 hectares Intensive trials cover approximately five ha at each site with the remaining area used for the extensive or operational plantings.
The intensive trials are being planted with a range of species including ash, alder (Italian and red), birch, hybrid aspen, sycamore, three species of eucalyptus and on some sites sweet chestnut and Nothofagus.
The extensive trials are being planted predominantly with Eucalyptus nitens (shining gum). Initial spacing has a significant effect upon the subsequent growth and form of a tree crop so a range of plant spacings (0.5 to 3.0 m) will be tested on a limited number of sites and species. Tree spacing is 2x1m on the intensive areas and 2x2m on the extensive areas.
A wide range of secondary candidate species, not included in the main trial but thought to have potential, are also being planted on any available “spare” areas on the sites.
Environmental controls
Sites where there are likely to be local environmental and other sensitivities have been avoided but the proposals have been subject to normal scrutiny and consideration under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations and public consultation procedures for the planting of new woodlands.
Planting meets the requirements of the UK Forest Standard in the same way as other woodland planting administered by the Forestry Commission. Guidelines regarding species diversity, forest design, open space and biodiversity have been followed.
See http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6dfl8y for more details of the procedures for stakeholder consultation and ensuring that statutory/regulatory conditions are met.
Timescales
Data will be collected until the trees are harvested in approximately eight years for the extensive operational eucalyptus trial areas and up to 15 years for the intensive experimental areas.
Funding is currently in place upto the end of March 2011, but one of Forest Reseach's objectives is to secure support for further phases of work (through to the end of the first rotation) to assess the long-term potential of SRF.
Monitoring
Forest Research will assess the environmental impacts, biomass production and operational techniques for all sites. Results will be published in the final report and other publications, where appropriate.
- Basic site details
- Assessments to quantify environmental impacts on:
-
- Hydrology
- Biodiversity (probably limited to above ground)
- Landscape
- Soil (carbon, nutrient status and structure)
- Greenhouse gas / carbon balance
- Hydrology
-
- Growth and yield
- Calorific value and chemical composition of products
- Social Research, including stakeholder and public perceptions
- Operational costs (£ and Carbon) for:
-
- Cultivation
- Weed control (if any)
- Fertiliser application (if any)
- Plant supply
- Planting
- Inspecting
- Pest control (if any)
- Harvesting
- Chipping or milling the wood (if any)
- Drying (if any)
-
- Regular photographic record
- Reinstatement costs
Early results and performance
The sites in Cumbria and Lincolnshire were planted with extensive area of Eucalyptus last spring and so experienced the very cold and long-lasting winter. Both were growing on well but the more northerly site suffered particularly low temperatures of around minus 15 degrees celsius and most of the trees were killed. It has been replanted this spring. The Lincolnshire site survived with minor damage.
After use and licensing regime for felling
Any felling of trees planted as part of the trial - or any subsequent plantings - will be subject to the normal controls applied to tree felling by the Forestry Commission.
Where the landowner wishes to convert the land back to its former use at the end of the trial the proposals will be subject to EIA regulations.
If an Environmental Statement were not required (or where it was and it was approved) the Forestry Commission would issue an unconditional felling licence.
