Slade Bioenergienutzung UK Opt

Bio-energy in the UK
Biomass energy – tasks for spatial planning

Leipzig
18th November 2008
Raphael Slade
E-mail: raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 7306
Outline
• UK policies and initiatives
• Bio-energy deployment in the UK
• Land use planning - tools and approach
• Conclusions
Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk
The UK has sought to lead on climate change
‘Climate change is probably, in the

long term, the single most important
issue we face as a global community’
‘We need to go beyond Kyoto…

climate change cannot be
ignored’
‘This is extremely urgent. A

50% cut by 2050 has to be a
central component’
Bio-energy is seen as part of the solution…
… but more needs to be done
The [UK] approach can be
“The UK is in
characterised as: no targets; no
danger of being
concerted policy; no strategy; and,
left behind”
limited support for development
Royal Commission Environmental Sir Ben Gill – Biomass Taskforce

Pollution 22nd report
The existing policy framework is extensive…
Incentive schemes target all stages of the supply-chain and the innovation chain.
Supply chain
Feedstocks Conversion Distribution
R&D
16 incentive schemes identified* including:
Innovation
• Energy Crops • DTI technology • ROCs chain
Scheme programme Commercialisation
• Community
• Bioenergy • Community renewables
infrastructure energy initiative
Knowledge
scheme transfer
Numerous organisations are responsible for administration:
* Biomass Task Force 2005

…but ambitious high level targets cannot be
disaggregated
12.5% cut in CO2, relative to 1990 levels, by 2012
UK Set the UK on a path to cut CO2 by 60% by 2050
20% cut relative to 1990 levels, by 2010
“Significant contribution”
Bio-energy
“Is important”
Specific targets run counter to Government
policy…
The political mindset Implications for bio-energy
• Competition should be
supported
Is the current level of
• Technology options deployment desirable?...
should compete of price
• Support mechanisms
should be technology …or indicative of policy
blind failure?
• Policy cost should be
minimised
…bio-energy policies cannot be assessed

against objectives
UK bio-energy development is likely to be
driven by the EU
Indicative, Renewable electricity directive (2001)

non-binding Biofuels directive (2003)
targets
Precise, legally binding targets Agreement for renewable

A co-ordinated approach energy directive (2008)
Minimum sustainability
standards
In 2007, renewables accounted for ~2% of
UK energy supply
~80% electricity, ~13%Heat, ~7% Transport
DUKES 2008 Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk

Deployment has increased, but
mostly using imported biomass
Co-fired biomass
2006
Electricity generated from renewable
Biomass Quantity
sources 2000 – 2006 (kt)
Co-firing Palm waste 449
Olive waste 283
MSW
Sewage Tall oil 120
Wood pellet 163
Landfill gas
Tallow 119
Cereal co- 102
Wind & hydro product
Wood 102
Sewage 21
Sludge
Sawdust 20
Sunflower 20
pellets
Other 10
So far, agricultural land use has been
minimal… but looks set to increase
Hectares
Crop
2004 2007
SRC 1500 1500
Miscanthus 295 10,000
Thousands of
hectares
2004 Drax plan 900MW
(total ~18MHa) biomass power plant
October 08
Rowe, R.L. 2007 Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk

Energy crops have generated some interest
from the NGOs…
We need…
• a pro-active and strategic approach
to the land-use planning system [to]
minimise adverse effects on the
historic environment.
• To introduce minimum standards

and certification
• To ensure that the planning system

is equipped to respond
…but little concern compared to wind
farms, GM crops, poly tunnels
Forests and woodlands are controlled by
the UK Forestry Commission
• Felling Licences are required for harvesting operations

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – consent is
required for woodland creation, deforestation, road and
quarry operations
• Habitat Regulations - a licence may be required if
European Protected Species are affected: e.g. dormouse,
otter, great crested newt, sand lizard, bats
• Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) – approval is
required to restrict public access in a woodland that has
been dedicated under CRoW
• Plant Health - forestry material movements are controlled
• Forest Reproductive Material –The identification and
distribution of seeds, cuttings and planting stock is
controled
Energy crops: SRC and Miscanthus, are
not controlled…
… but subsidies are contingent

on environmental conditions
being met
• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
are required for all applications to the
Energy Crops Scheme
• Consent required for power plant > 50MW.

Issues include:
• Visual intrusion
• Noise
• Traffic
Environmental designations may restrict
grant approval in sensitive locations
LONDON
Joint Character Assessment Maps provide
a recognised national spatial network
• 159 JCAs divide the

countryside into areas of
similar landscape
character
• Form a national spatial

network
• Links to planning
guidance
• Used to target
environmental grants
e.g. stewardship scheme
The High Weald
The expected impact of energy crops is
described for each JCA area – along with
planning recommendations
PB – Potentially beneficial; N – Neutral;

PA – Potentially Adverse
Agriculture, Settlements, Habitats

Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk PA – Potentially Adverse
Historic features, Rivers & coasts,
Visual impacts

PA – Potentially Adverse
Conclusions
• UK bio-energy policy has done little to increase

domestic energy crop production, but this looks
set to change
• Little evidence of public concern… thus far
• A limited planning framework exists –
participation is motivated by the economics
• Planning tools are in place and could be
strengthened if required
• Land use can be expected to generate interest:
our farmland is our environment
Thank you for your attention
Funding initiative
Renewable energy / low carbon technology

Bio-energy only
Delivery (including bio-energy )
mechanism
Appro Appro
Programme x Units Programme x Units
Value Value
Clear Skies 3 £m.yr-1 Woodlands grant scheme 20 £m.yr-1
Community Energy Programme 5 £m.yr-1 Energy Crops scheme 3 £m.yr-1
Carbon Trust R&D 4 £m.yr-1 Farm woodland scheme 2 £m.yr-1
DTI technology programme 80 £m.yr-1 Farm woodland premium scheme 8 £m.yr-1
English woodland grant scheme 10 £m
Grant
Bio-energy infrastructure scheme 3.5 £m
Bio-energy capital grants scheme 66 £m
Common agricultural policy – energy

45 £.ha-1
crops
Information /
Community renewables initiative 0.5 £m.yr-1
facilitation
Renewable Obligation Certificates

33.3 £.MWh-1
(ROCs)
Market
Emissions trading scheme (EU) 16 £.tcarbon-1
mechanism
Climate change levy exemption

4.41 £.MWh-1
certificates

Slade Bioenergienutzung UK Opt

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Bio-energy in the UK

Biomass energy – tasks for spatial planning

• UK policies and initiatives

• Bio-energy deployment in the UK

• Land use planning - tools and approach

‘Climate change is probably, in the

‘We need to go beyond Kyoto…

‘This is extremely urgent. A

Royal Commission Environmental Sir Ben Gill – Biomass Taskforce

Numerous organisations are responsible for administration:

* Biomass Task Force 2005

12.5% cut in CO2, relative to 1990 levels, by 2012

UK Set the UK on a path to cut CO2 by 60% by 2050

20% cut relative to 1990 levels, by 2010

…bio-energy policies cannot be assessed

Indicative, Renewable electricity directive (2001)

Precise, legally binding targets Agreement for renewable

DUKES 2008 Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk

Rowe, R.L. 2007 Raphael.slade@imperial.ac.uk

• To introduce minimum standards

• To ensure that the planning system

• Felling Licences are required for harvesting operations

… but subsidies are contingent

• Consent required for power plant > 50MW.

• 159 JCAs divide the

• Form a national spatial

PB – Potentially beneficial; N – Neutral;

PB – Potentially beneficial; N – Neutral;

PB – Potentially beneficial; N – Neutral;

• UK bio-energy policy has done little to increase

Renewable energy / low carbon technology

Community Energy Programme 5 £m.yr-1 Energy Crops scheme 3 £m.yr-1

Carbon Trust R&D 4 £m.yr-1 Farm woodland scheme 2 £m.yr-1

DTI technology programme 80 £m.yr-1 Farm woodland premium scheme 8 £m.yr-1

English woodland grant scheme 10 £m

Bio-energy capital grants scheme 66 £m

Common agricultural policy – energy

Renewable Obligation Certificates

Climate change levy exemption

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