Download - POTENTIAL FOR ENERGY FROM BIOMASS IN THE UK
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POTENTIAL FOR ENERGY FROM BIOMASS IN THE UK
Alex McBurnie
ENV-2E02
Energy Resources
February 24th 2005
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INCLUDING / IGNORING
LOOKING AT: Electricity Heat Transport 15-25 years in the
future
BUT NOT: Energy from Waste
Which would include: Straw Hedge Clippings Sawmill Waste
Which could provide much energy by themselves
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ENERGY FROM EXISTING FORESTS
12% of Britain is woodland – 2.8 million hectares (Forestry Commission, 2004)
By 2020 Britain will be producing 10 million tonnes a year more wood than is currently used – and demand is falling (RCEP, 2004)
This level is sustainable assuming restocking matches or exceeds extraction
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HOW MUCH ENERGY COULD THIS PRODUCE?
10 million tonnes of wood Energy Content Estimated 20 GJ / Tonne Will therefore contain (not accounting for
energy used in extraction):- 200 million GJ- 200 PJ per Year
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NEW PLANTING
Wood Short Rotation Coppice
-4 year cycle-20 year replacement
Longer growth - 15 years
Willow or Poplar Trees For heat, electricity and
CHP production
Non-wood Miscanthus Grass Oilseed rape for
biodiesel Sugar beet for
bioethanol 1 season cylce All have similar energy
contents ~ 20GJ / tonne
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USING SET-ASIDE LAND
Under CAP an average (1999-2002) 640 ha land is under set-aside
Much of this lies fallow At yields of 15 tonnes / hectare / year
(conservative estimate) x 640 ha = 9600 tonnes per year
So 10,000 tonnes per year realistic estimate
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SET-ASIDE LAND CONTINUED…
10,000 tonnes x 20 GJ = 200,000 GJ 200,000 GJ = 0.2 PJ per Year
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USING EXITING AGRICULTURAL LAND
Grade 5 land largely too poor
Grades 1, 2 & 3 best used for food production
Grade 4 ideal for fuel crops
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EXISTING LAND CONTINUED…
Grades 4 = 16% of UK agricultural land NFU indicates 20% of UK crops are not
needed for food Suggests that use of grade 4 land will have
no effect on food supply
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HOW MUCH?
16% of UK’s 18.5 million hectares agricultural land = 3 million hectares (roughly)
At yields of 15 tonnes / hectare / year = 45 million tonnes
Assuming 20 GJ per tonne this could produce 900 million GJ = 900 PJ per year
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SUMMARY OF RAW ENERGY
From exiting forests = 200 PJ From set-aside land = 0.2 PJ From agricultural land = 900 PJ Minus extraction and transport overheads of
0.2 GJ / tonne (from Thetford Forest practical) x 55,010,000 t = >12PJ
Total = 1088.2 PJ per year
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HOW WILL THIS BE USED?
EFFICIENCIES CHP (or heat only) =
85% Straight electricity =
30% Road transport = 70%
SO THE TOTAL USEABLE ENERGY PRODUCED COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 325 PJ and 925 PJ