Woodfuel Production in the UK: Unlocking the Existing Resource and Growing for the Future

Abstract

Developing energy markets have the potential to transform forestry. Although all UK forests and woodlands have been managed in the past, large areas of woodland have not been thinned or harvested for many years. This lack of management has led to a decline in woodland biodiversity. The emergence of viable renewable heat markets, able to cover the cost of harvesting, extracting and processing wood, have the potential to increase woodland management levels, and reverse the decline in biodiversity. However, the existing forest resource can only supply a fraction of our total energy demand and increased competition for this resource is likely. Increased demand for, and hence value of, wood could lead to more woodlands being established in the UK. Energy markets may lead to an increase in the use of alternative silvicultural systems such as short rotation coppice and short rotation forestry. The way wood is used to produce energy is likely to change in the future. Research continues on using wood to produce liquid fuels whilst combining carbon capture and storage facilities with biomass fired power generation has the potential to deliver carbon negative energy. However, these environmental and economic benefits will only be delivered if bioenergy supply chains are based on established sustainable forest management practices.