Bioenergy Implementation Plan - South-East Regional Authority

Sugar Beet and Cereals
Sugar beet and cereals are the main raw material used for bioethanol production, but other sugary and starchy materials
can also be used. Bioethanol can be used as a blend with conventional petrol and it can also be used in Flexible Fuel
Vehicles (FFV) at an 85% blend, as discussed in Chapter 8.
Grass
Grass has the potential to be used as a feedstock in an AD plant to produce biogas. One advantage of grass as an
energy crop is that there is a large amount of knowledge and experience in relation to grass production within the
agricultural community. Furthermore, there are none of the high start-up costs that are associated with the growing of
oilseed rape, miscanthus or short rotation coppice. The anaerobic digestion of grass would also require other feedstocks,
of which there is a large supply (e.g. food processing and slaughter house wastes), so there is an added advantage from
a waste management point of view.
Miscanthus
Miscanthus is a perennial, rhizomatous grass which typically requires 3 years to establish. The crop is planted in the
Spring and once established can remain for at least 15 years. Bamboo-like canes are produced during late Spring and
Summer and these are harvested in late Winter. The establishment and harvesting of miscanthus can be done with
conventional farm machinery
Miscanthus can be combusted to produce heat and/or electricity on a range of scales from large power stations
requiring hundreds of thousands of tonnes of biomass annually to small-scale systems requiring just a few dozen
tonnes during Winter months.
Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be a source of bioenergy either by combusting it in a thermal treatment
facility with energy recovery or by using anaerobic digestion technology to produce biogas which is used for
energy generation.
Landfill Gas
Landfill gas, which is produced by the natural degradation of waste, can be used for energy generation if produced
in sufficient quantities and with sufficient levels of methane.
6.2. Summary of Regional Bioenergy Resources
Table 6.1 outlines a summary of the potential bioenergy resources in the South-East Region. These resources are
discussed individually in the following sections. It should be noted that for each of the resources discussed, there are
alternative end uses. For the purpose of this Resource Assessment, an estimation of the availability of each resource for
energy has been made. This is by no means conclusive and the availability of any given resource is subject to change.
The availability of each resource for bioenergy purposes will ultimately be determined by market forces.
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