Renewable Energy Strategy to be published this summer

The Renewable Energy Strategy will set out how we will support the supply of biomass waste for energy and the necessary infrastructure

 
Dan Norris

Recycling minister Dan Norris has revealed that the government is to soon publish its Renewable Energy Strategy, which will look in maximise energy recovery from “unavoidable residual waste” as part of wider plans to meet targets under the Renewable Energy Directive. This requires that the UK generates 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 (see letsrecycle.com story).

The revelation came as the Wood Recyclers' Association (WRA) published data showing that biomass last year became the second largest market for waste woodchip in the UK ahead of animal bedding – while the largest market, wood panel, showed signs of decreasing its market share.

Speaking in response to a parliamentary written question on July 2, Mr Norris said: “Government are committed to maximising energy recovered from unavoidable residual waste, making the most of its potential to contribute to our climate change and wider environmental objectives.

“The Renewable Energy Strategy, due for publication this summer, will set out how we will support the supply of biomass waste for energy and the necessary infrastructure,” he added.

Wood

The WRA statistics cover 2008 and are the second annual figures to be published by the organisation (see letsrecycle.com story) using information from members and the Wood Panel Industries Federation, which represents chipboard manufacturers.

At the same time, the amount of post-consumer wood being sent to the panel board sector, although still the largest end market (55%), fell from 1,200,000 tonnes in 2007 to 1,119,000 tonnes in 2008 – representing a 7% drop.

The trend follows increasing investment in biomass power plants in the UK and a fall in the amount of wood being used by the panelboard sector due to the recession – which has led to concerns amongst some chipboard manufacturers over future supplies of material, especially since wood waste volumes are currently low.

It also comes after new WRA chairman Clem Spencer last week warned that in the clamour to jump on the renewables bandwagon, wood recyclers should be careful not to neglect their main consumers, the panel board manufacturers (see letsrecycle.com story).

Overall, the statistics show that the amount of wood diverted from landfill increased by 7% , from 1,886,000 tonnes in 2007 to 2,024,000 tonnes in 2008.

Of this, 350,000 tonnes went into animal bedding (17%), 73,000 tonnes was used for equine surfaces (3.6%), 95,000 tonnes was used for mulches, soil conditioners and composting (4.6%) and 17,000 tonnes was used for pathways and coverings (0.8%).

The increase in wood waste being sent to biomass comes after Defra published a report in April 2008 calling for more lower-grade material to be used as fuel (see letsrecycle.com story).