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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number RES-227-25-0020
Title Social, economic and environmental implications of increasing rural land use under energy crops
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy) 40%;
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 60%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 35%;
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science) 15%;
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 100%
Principal Investigator Dr A (Angela ) Karp
No email address given
Agro-Ecology
Rothamsted Research
Award Type Standard
Funding Source ESRC
Start Date 01 March 2006
End Date 30 September 2009
Duration 43 months
Total Grant Value £894,503
Industrial Sectors No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Region East of England
Programme ESRC Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr A (Angela ) Karp , Agro-Ecology, Rothamsted Research (99.995%)
  Other Investigator Dr AJ (Alan ) Bond , Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia (0.001%)
Prof A (Andrew ) Lovett , Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia (0.001%)
Dr J (Jonathan ) Finch , Process Hydrology, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) (0.001%)
Mr M (Martin ) Turner , Geography, University of Exeter (0.001%)
Dr R (Rufus ) Sage , Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) (0.001%)
Web Site https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=RES-227-25-0020
Objectives Objectives not supplied
Abstract Renewable energies are crucial for meeting the UK Governments energy and environmental objectives, particularly energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Perennial crops grown for biomass production, such as Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow and the exotic grass, miscanthus, are a renewable energy source which is carbon neutral, because the quantities of carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere on combusting the crop are equal to those absorbed by photosynthesis during crop growth. Future policies are likely to encourage plantings of biomass crops, particularly as they provide new opportunities for farmers. Biomass crops differ from the annual arable crops and grassland they are likely to replace, in the habitat they provide, in their life cycle, growth characteristics and general appearance. It is important to understand the impacts of changing land use to biomass crops in order to optimise the gains and minimise any potential downsides. Using two UK regions as study areas, this project will examine the sustainability of SRC willow and miscanthus relative to arable crops and grassland by comparing rural economics, social acceptability, landscape character, water use and biodiversity. The results will provide scientific tools for assessing where energy crop plantings can be placed for achieving maximum benefits.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 10/11/09