ETI seeks partners for bioenergy project to refine estimates of available UK land that could be used for energy crops

•    ETI issues Request for Proposals seeking partners to deliver a new project in its bioenergy technology programme
•    Project will validate current estimates of available UK land for the production of biomass crops and forestry for energy
•    Deadline for proposals – 23rd March 2015

Loughborough, February 2015 – The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is seeking partners to deliver a project to validate current estimates of available UK land that can be used for the production of biomass crops and forestry for energy.

The project aims to refine existing estimates on the amount of UK land “available” for bioenergy crops and/or forestry and explain any differences that occur between theoretical estimates and survey findings.

ETI analysis shows that not including bioenergy or carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the UK’s energy mix for 2050 could double the cost of delivering climate change targets from around 1% of GDP to 2%. This means the value of CCS or bioenergy to the energy system is over £200bn and if neither are developed it is really difficult to see how the UK would be able to meet its climate change targets.
The project will build on the outputs of existing ETI Biomass Systems Value Chain Modelling (BVCM) and Ecosystem Land Use Modelling (ELUM) projects.

Jonathan Oxley, ETI Bioenergy Project manager said:

“Our analysis has consistently shown that bioenergy has a critical role to play if the UK is to deliver its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in an affordable way.

“This project will continue our work to build an evidence base to ensure the sustainability of land use change to biomass production in the UK.”

It is expected the project will deliver the following outcomes:
•    Identification of the amount of UK land “available” for bioenergy crops and/or forestry;
•    An explanation of any differences between theoretical estimates and survey (desk and field) findings and what “correct” and “incorrect” assumptions have been made in the theoretical assessments.  
•    An analysis of what refinements are required to improve theoretical estimates of “available” land generated by models,
•    What steps and agencies are involved when a landowner seeks to convert existing land to bioenergy crops or forestry, along with an assessment of the opportunities and barriers to increasing land use for biomass production.
The request for proposals will close on 23rd March 2015. The deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 16th March 2015.

To view the request for proposals http://www.eti.co.uk/eti-seeks-partners-for-bioenergy-project-to-refine-estimates-of-available-uk-land-that-could-be-used-for-energy-crops