The National Assembly for Wales' sustainability committee has advocated the introduction of restrictions on sending wood to landfill in order to stimulate the production of woody biomass.
Hearing evidence from the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor), Forestry Commission Wales and the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF), the committee was told that there are a number of key issues with regards to biomass in Wales. These include availability of raw materials, financial and environmental issues and market opportunities.
The report also points to evidence from ConFor, based on a report published in March, that states that demand for British sourced wood fibre has been rising rapidly in recent years, with demand likely to exceed supply from 2012.
Waste wood
One of the concerns raised was the amount of waste wood being sent to landfill, with the committee told of the need for a more ‘environmentally-friendly and optimal resource utilising' system to be established.
As a result, it recommended that the Welsh Government use the newly appointed powers conferred by ‘The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Environment) Order 2010' (see letsrecycle.com story) to introduce restrictions on sending wood to landfill.
On this issue, the committee said: “We are aware that in March the Welsh Government and Defra launched a consultation on the introduction of restrictions on the landfilling of certain wastes, including wood. We support the introduction of restrictions on landfilling wood and eagerly await the Welsh Government's decision.”
Market displacement
Also highlighted by the witnesses as a concern was market displacement, with fears expressed that financial incentives rewarding the generation of electricity from burning wood will push out other industries.
In its written evidence to the committee, WPIF told the committee that since 2002, the RO has allowed energy companies that burn wood for electricity generation to outbid existing wood users.
It claimed: “Once a critical mass of biomass plant is reached, the wood panel industry will no longer be able to compete with the subsidised energy sector.”
This issue has previously been raised by the WPIF, which has claimed large-scale biomass plants being paid a renewable energy subsidy to burn woodchips have pushed up woodchip prices by more than 30% in the last few years (see letsrecycle.com story).
ConFor also drew attention to the fact that in terms of carbon and jobs, the most efficient way to use wood is in its solid form.
It told the committee: “This means the carbon in harvested wood should remain locked up as long as possible and be reused and recycled, all the time substituting for materials such as brick, concrete, steel and plastics which use more carbon in their production.”
It added that only at the end of its useful life should wood be burnt for energy.
As a result, the committee made the following recommendations to the WAG:
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Take into account the effect the Renewable Obligation and the implementation of the Renewable Heat Incentive could have on the existing market when implementing their biomass and forestry policies;
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Do its best to ensure that existing wood using industries in Wales are not excluded from the market by the wood being diverted exclusively for burning.
The sustainability committee added: “We believe wood should be utilised for as long as possible to ensure the carbon is stored and only at the end of its useful life be burnt for energy in markets, local to the supply, to ensure carbon emissions are kept to a minimum.”
“Delighted”
Welcoming the report, ConFor's head of policy, Rupert Pigot, said: “I am delighted to see the committee's recommendations reflecting the points that ConFor has been raising throughout the UK.
“Crucially, large-scale wood-fired electricity generators are inefficient. They are largely dependent on imported material, raising questions over security of supply. Small-scale, local use of wood for energy, especially heat, is an appropriate use of wood that will not cause displacement of existing industries that provide a better carbon use out of the whole life of the timber. Solid wood is a valuable carbon store. The UK has a limited timber resource, which must be used wisely.”
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