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Reference Number

ETI-BI2012

Title

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass

Status

Completed

Energy Categories

Renewable Energy Sources (Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes))

Research Types

Applied Research and Development

Science and Technology Fields

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation

Not Cross-cutting

Principal Investigator

Project Contact
ADAS UK Ltd

Award Type

Institute Project

Funding Source

ETI

Start Date

25 September 2015

End Date

10 November 2016

Duration

14 months

Total Grant Value

£186,000

Industrial Sectors

Region

London

Programme

Bioenergy

Investigators

Principal Investigator

Project Contact, ADAS UK Ltd

Other Investigator

Project Contact, Crops for Energy Ltd
Project Contact, E4Tech Ltd
Project Contact, Imperial Consultants
Project Contact, RDI Associates Ltd

Web Site

Objectives

Abstract

Many significant pieces of work have been undertaken to assess UK “2nd generation” bioenergy feedstock production potential. The RELB project was undertaken to help refine and sense-check these existing estimates, including the ETI’s own in-house modelling assumptions, in order to understand what further ‘correction factors’ (if any) may need to be applied to adjust existing estimates. In addition, the project aimed to better understand the process for converting land to 2nd generation bioenergy feedstocks and the impact planting these feedstocks could have on farm businesses. The RELB project had four distinct work packages:

A review of latest theoretical estimates of land available for biomass production in the UK and Europe.
A desk study to identify additional constraint layers which could be used to refine the ETI’s own in-house land availability constraint masks. The suitability of these additional constraint layers was tested through field surveys.
A review of the steps and agencies involved in land use change to bioenergy crops and forestry.
Case studies of three farmers who have planted bioenergy crops, focusing on the financial and food production impacts of their decision.

Data

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Case Study - Abbey Farm, Miscanthus

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Case Study - Miscanthus, Friars Farm

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Case Study - SRC Willow at Brackenthwaite Farm

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Data on the job implications of establishing a bioenergy market - data supporting charts in Appendices to main report

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Data on the job implications of establishing a bioenergy market - data supporting charts in main report

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Field Survey

Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - Field survey results

Projects

No related projects

Publications

An ETI Perspective - Increasing UK biomass production through more productive use of land