to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones
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Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes <strong>to</strong> Wastes and Energy<br />
AEA/ED45551/Issue 1<br />
By utilising <strong>the</strong> above resources from currently under managed woodlands, as outlined in <strong>the</strong> Forestry<br />
Commissions Wood Fuel Strategy (2006), 97 <strong>the</strong>se woodlands could contribute significantly <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> arisings<br />
of forestry residues available for conversion <strong>to</strong> energy or transport fuels.<br />
A potential disadvantage that would need <strong>to</strong> be accounted for is <strong>the</strong> negative effects of removing this<br />
material from a forest, which if removed in excess could result in a decline in soil quality and structure, a<br />
decline in water quality and a decline in carbon sequestration. 98<br />
Production from commercial forestry systems is usually more complex than for annual or perennial energy<br />
crops, since <strong>the</strong> composition of <strong>the</strong> biomass obtained is a mixture of <strong>the</strong> above. 93<br />
The figures used in this section are based on a detailed <strong>report</strong> <strong>by</strong> McKay et al. (2003), <strong>the</strong> Forestry<br />
Commission for <strong>the</strong> DTI, published in 2003. Any detailed information on <strong>the</strong> methodology used <strong>to</strong><br />
calculate <strong>the</strong> forestry residue arising is available from this <strong>report</strong>. McKay et al. (2003) does not provide<br />
forestry residue data for Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ireland and this is <strong>the</strong>refore collected from o<strong>the</strong>r sources.<br />
Figures in ‘oven dried <strong>to</strong>nnes’ (odt) are often quoted in this area. This refers <strong>to</strong> wood that is completely<br />
dried (i.e. zero moisture content). In reality it is very difficult <strong>to</strong> produce such wood, particularly from virgin<br />
residues and wood fuel is typically available at a range of moisture contents. To overcome issues that<br />
variable moisture content creates for <strong>the</strong> comparison of wood (and o<strong>the</strong>r biomass) fuels, characteristics<br />
such as calorific value are often quoted for odt.<br />
4.6.3 Current arisings<br />
The map of Great Britain from RESTATS shows <strong>the</strong> resource availability of forestry residues. As <strong>the</strong><br />
arising data for forestry residues shows in <strong>the</strong> latter section of this chapter, a vast amount of forestry<br />
residue exists in <strong>the</strong> UK. However <strong>the</strong> availability of <strong>the</strong> resource is an issue since it is al<strong>read</strong>y marketed<br />
<strong>to</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r industries and any remaining residue left on <strong>the</strong> ground contributes <strong>to</strong> effective forestry<br />
management through decomposition and soil nutrient maintenance. Therefore this chapter provides <strong>the</strong><br />
forestry residue arising data, however <strong>the</strong>y are not necessary available for energy projects.<br />
97 A Woodfuel Strategy for England, Forestry Commission, 2006,<br />
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fce-woodfuel-strategy.pdf/$FILE/fce-woodfuel-strategy.pdf<br />
98 Forest Residues, Cranfield University, Ian Truckell, http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/naturalresources/research/projects/forestresidues.jsp<br />
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