Gilbert, P.

Thornley, P.

Welfle, A.

English

• Consideration of appropriate feedstocks for biomass heating applications• Examination of the availability, characteristics and origin of key indigenous and imported feedstocks • Evaluation of some of the wider issues associated with different feedstocks, including feedstock sustainability and international trade• Consideration of the role of standards and certification schemes in ensuring sustainable development of bioheat in the U

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The University of Manchester ResearchAvailability and Sustainability of Biomass for Heating inthe UKLink to publication record in Manchester Research ExplorerCitation for published version (APA):Thornley, P., Gilbert, P., & Welfle, A. (2011). Availability and Sustainability of Biomass for Heating in the UK.Warming to biomass: the essential role of biomass for renewable heat, London.Citing this paperPlease note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscriptor Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use thepublisher's definitive version.General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by theauthors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise andabide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.Takedown policyIf you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s TakedownProcedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact uml.scholarlycommunications@manchester.ac.uk providingrelevant details, so we can investigate your claim.Download date:12. Nov. 2022Availability & Sustainability of Biomass for Heating in the UKDr Patricia Thornley, Mr Andrew Welfle & Dr Paul Gilbert, Tyndall Centre, University of ManchesterOverview• Background• Feedstocks for biomass heating applications• Availability, characteristics and origin of key indigenous and imported feedstocks • Wider issues associated with different feedstocks• Standards and certification schemes Generation of heat accounts for roughly 47% of the UK’s total energy consumption by end-use, and 41% of the UK’s total carbon emissions1(1) UK Biomass Strategy, 2007, www.dti.gov.uk/energy/Background: UK heating demandBackground: Energy from biomass in the UK(1) Renewable Fuels Agency, 2010, ‘RFA Quarterly Report 8’, (2) DECC, 2011, Digest of UK Energy Statistics, chapter 7, tables 7.1.1 and 7.4Quantity Year Data SourceBioethanol 3,789 GWh 2009/10Renewable Fuels Agency, 2010 (1)Biodiesel 10,205 GWh 2009/10Electricity 11,915 GWh 2010/11DUKES 2011 (2)Heat12,370 Gwh2010/11Feedstocks for biomass heatinglandfill gasSewage sludgeDomestic wood combustionIndustrial wood combustionAnimal biomassPlant biomassBiodegradable MSWSource: DECC, 2011, Digest of UK Energy Statistics, (1) DECC, 2009, ‘Biomass Supply Curves for the UK’, www.decc.gov.uk/publications/(2) Thornley et al., “Sustainability constraints on UK bioenergy development”, Energy Policy, 2009 The biomass resource from UK feedstocks could reach around 10% of current UK primary energy demand by 2030, at a cost of less than £5/GJ 1 Plus a large global woody biomass element Supergen Bioenergy research shows that the sustainable level of UK biomass resource is lower than this: 4.9% of total energy demand (4.3% of heat demands, 4.3% of electricity, and 5.8% of transport fuel). 2 Plus a large global woody biomass elementAvailability of feedstocksFuture biomass supply• Domestic wood – pellets (& chips) from forestry related materials or energy crops• Industrial wood – chips from forestry related materials or energy crops, some waste wood, some forest residues• Plant biomass e.g. straw• More importsEcologicalEconomicSocialPesticide useImpact on crop rotationsWater demand vslocal availabilityGenetic modificationRegional biodiversityPlantation biodiversityGreenhouse gas savingsFertilizer useSoil chemical changesSoil physical changesUse of fire for land clearanceAccidental fire risk from feedstock productionWaste arisingsSurface and ground water pollutionAir borne pollutionContribution to national GDP via taxInappropriate handling of complaintsMinimum standards for treatment of workers and protection of rightsAppropriate training of workersLegal non-complianceCommunity benefitsCost of delivered energy productConflict with local food productionSocial & environmental assessment of new plantationsLegal system transparent & acknowledgedUse of inappropriately obtained landAppropriate community consultationVisual/landscape impact of cropImpact on global food pricesEnergy delivered per unit of land usedMinimum grade of land requiredWider impacts of land use changeContribution to energy securityTechnology risk –potential for failureContribution to national economy via employment and manufacturingCapital investment per unit of capacityGreenhouse Gas Balances• Should be calculated for a specific supply chain• Greenhouse gas balances for UK heating systems using sustainable forestry are generally very good ~90%• Chip systems generally give better GHG savings than pellets ~20% reduction in GHG savings• Long distance shipping can be very energy efficient –~10% reduction in GHG savings• Land use change can reduce savings – not generally a big issue, but beware of indirect effects• There is uncertainty about the long term impacts of high levels of residue removalEmissions & environmental performance• Combustion of wood often results in higher levels of particulates and other airborne pollutants than combustion of natural gas• Growth of woody material often results in higher levels of eutrophication & acidification than natural gas production because land is being usedEnvironmental life cycle impact of domestic heating options0.20.40.60.80.100.120.Abiotic depletionAcidificationEutrophicationGlobal warming (GWP100)Ozone layer depletion (ODP)Human toxicityFresh water aquatic ecotox.Marine aquatic ecotoxicityTerrestrial ecotoxicityPhotochemical oxidation%Domestic pellet boilerDomestic natural gas boilerEnvironmental life cycle impact of larger scale heating options0.20.40.60.80.100.120.Abiotic depletionAcidificationEutrophicationGlobal warming (GWP100)Ozone layer depletion (ODP)Human toxicityFresh water aquatic ecotox.Marine aquatic ecotoxicityTerrestrial ecotoxicityPhotochemical oxidation%District heating from energycrop wood chipsDistrict heating from naturalgas boilerWider issues for wood pelletsFeedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceWood Pellets Positive ImpactsHigh proportion of traded pellets are manufactured to sustainability standards. Combustion properties can be better than chips Numerous international sources for trade - North America, Scandinavia etc. – energy securityMay make use of wood processing wastesNegative ImpactsEnvironmental performance is highly reliant on the source and sustainability of the biomass resource.Embodied energy (& carbon) associated with transportation and dryingLocal air pollutant impacts for small scale/domestic facilities.Wider issues for wood chipsFeedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceWood Chips Positive ImpactsGHG balance often better than pelletsSustainable forestry certification ensures many key issues are addressed Negative ImpactsEnvironmental performance more variable than for pellets in small installations Transportation impact can be higher than for pelletsDegradation in storage may lead to significant lossesCompetition with other wood usesDynamics of the GHG balance – when was the carbon sequestered?Wider issues for forest residuesFeedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceForestry Residues Positive ImpactsMuch of the UK’s 2.8 Mha managed woodlands have no significant economic value - highly untapped marketPromote rural development through sustainable forest management schemes.Woodfuel industry would promote greater management of UK woodland areasNegative ImpactsRemoving the forest residue prevents the return of nutrients andorganic matter to the soil. Carbon sequestration reduced. High capital cost of energy plants.Forests will have to be highly managed.Feedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceStrawPositive ImpactsNo major social or land implicationsEstablished production, processing & conversion technologies.  Positive rural economy benefits in areas where there is surplus. Negative ImpactsCompeting uses e.g. animal beddingLoss of soil nutrients (could be addressed by returning ash to soil).Loss of soil organic matterLow bulk density – transport impacts & economic viabilityWider issues for straw Feedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceWaste Wood MaterialPositive Impacts If embodied energy is low compared to the calorific value GHG savings can be achieved compared to recycling the material. Avoided landfill: estimated 5-6 million tonnes per year generated; 1.4 million tonnes of this recovered.Negative Impacts Airborne emissions particularly from metals/halogen additives tothe wood.  Compliance with the Waste Incineration Directive often entails larger, high cost facilities. Wider issues for waste wood (1) Rowe. R, et al, 2009, ‘Identifying potential environmental impacts of large-scale deployment of dedicated bioenergy crops in the UK’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13, Issue 1, 271-290Feedstock Feedstock Specific Environmental PerformanceShort Rotation Coppice (SRC) Positive ImpactsGood GHG balance per unit area of landIncome diversification in rural areasPositive for soil properties, erosion and biodiversity and nitrogen leaching compared to arable crops1. Negative ImpactsFarmer income low compared to arable farming.Long term commitment requiredWater demand is high. Visual impactWider issues for energy crops Imports• Imports are essential to substantially increase UK bioenergy production• Heat is a lower value product and so imports are less significant than for biofuels, bioelectricity and biochemicals, but pellet import is substantial• Sustainability certification for woody materials is more established than for other bioenergy feedstocks Standards and certification: the European Renewable Energy Directive• Applies to biofuel production• Includes mandatory sustainability criteria and monitoring/reporting requirements. EU Sustainability Criteria for Biofuels/liquidsGreenhouse Gas Emissions SavingsBiodiversity Land Use1)GHG emission savings from biofuels/liquids • ≥35% from 1st April 2013.• ≥50% from 1st January 2017. • ≥60% from 1st January 20181) Raw materials not obtained from land with high biodiversity value (forest or grassland)1) Raw materials not obtained from land with high carbon stock e.g. wetlands, forests, peat landUK RTFO• Sustainability reporting themes:- Carbon conservation- Biodiversity conservation- Soil conservation- Sustainable water use- Air quality- Workers and land rightsRFA, 2010), "Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation" from www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.ukNetherlands  Sustainable Production of Biomass Initiative ‘Cramer Committee for Sustainable Production of Biomass’ set up to develop a certification system & criteria for assessing the production & conversion of biomass for energy, fuels and other chemical processes.  Sustainability assessment themes:- Greenhouse gas emissions- Competition for food/local energy/materials- Environment & Biodiversity- Prosperity - Social wellbeing Germany’s‘International Sustainability & Carbon Certification’Initiative International sustainability certification system focusing on biomass and bioenergy, related to transport and liquid biofuels. - Certificates for sustainable cropping provided to farmers- Certification for all participants of supply chains Themes: - Biomass sustainability requirements  - GHG emissions savings and the calculation methodologies - Traceability and mass balanceRoundtable on sustainable biofuels Addresses indirect impacts, land use changes, food security etc. Minimum GHG emission saving threshold of 50%  12 core principles including: - Soil, Air, Water & Conservation- Human and labour rights- Rural & Social Development- Local food security- Greenhouse gas emissionsConcluding comments• Biomass heating market can grow substantially from sustainable UK production• Meeting government targets is likely to require imports• There should be a substantial sustainable wood fuel resource available internationally• Certification frameworks are evolving and focusing on greenhousegases, biodiversity, land, water and increasingly on social impacts• Areas to watch (not necessarily covered in forestry certification schemes)– GHG balance (pellets, drying, land use, soil carbon)– Airborne emissions– Land use & future food provision– Eutrophication & acidification– Soil nutrient & long term carbon balances– Competing uses– Social impacts of changes in land useMore information– Gilbert et al., 2011, “The influence of organic and inorganic fertiliserapplication rates on UK biomass crop sustainability“– Upham et al., 2011, “The sustainability of forestry biomass supply for EU bioenergy: a post-normal approach to environmental risk and uncertainty”– Thornley et al., 2010, “Assessing the sustainability of bioelectricity supply chains”– Thornley et al, 2010, “Cost effective carbon reductions in the bioenergy sector”– Thornley et al., 2009, “Integrated assessment of bioelectricity technology options”– Thornley et al., 2009, “Sustainability constraints on UK bioenergy development”– Thornley, P., 2008, “Airborne emissions from biomass based power generation systems” –– Thornley et al., 2008, “Quantification of employment from biomass power plants”p.thornley@manchester.ac.ukwww.supergen-bioenergy.net

Availability and Sustainability of Biomass for Heating in the UK

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Availability and Sustainability of Biomass for Heating in the UK

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