Energy Security
A secure energy supply is important to us all. Uncertainty over
supply results in rapid price fluctuations which have a serious
impact on industry. As individuals, we are seeing increasing energy
costs with more and more people being forced into fuel poverty -
spending more than 10% of their income on heat and electricity.
Renewable energy, generated locally, can be part of the
solution.
Biomass is unique in being able to supply energy on demand,
compared to the intermittent availability of other currently
available forms of renewable resource. The availablity is
reasonably predictable with effective data and, although primarily
a local source of energy, is also an internationally tradable
commodity.
A rich resource
Scotland is fortunate in having a large standing timber
resource. A vibrant bioenergy sector could provide a "wealth of
jobs across the supply chain" (Forum for Renewable Energy
Development in Scotland Biomass Energy Group report, 2005).
Accurate, up-to-date information about the size, distribution,
composition and condition of our forests and woodlands is essential
to support sustainable forest management. The Forestry Commission
is currently carrying out a National Forest Inventory - a five year
programme of work - and as part of that work, an updated forecast
of softwood production will be published towards the end of the
2011.
In the medium to long-term, the continuing growth of the
woodfuel sector will significantly increase demand for wood.
Therefore we need to look at using a range of resources including
new energy crops, undermanaged woodlands and recycled
wood. The updated Wood Fuel Task Force
report (2011) provides an updated estimate of the
additional volume of wood fibre available in Scotland,
from a range of sources, over and above existing demand.
The Woodfuel Taskforce report assesses the pressures on
woodfuel supply from a range of sources and states that there is
currently the equivalent of around 432,000 oven dried
tonnes (odt) of untapped wood resource. It also
suggests that improving timber production rates
suggest this could at least double within the next
ten years. The Wood Fuel Task Force is made
up of key stakeholders from across government and the timber and
energy industries.
Availability of timber will also depend on prices, harvesting
and delivery costs, and other markets. Woodfuel can offer a new
local market for forestry, minimising transport distances and
costs, bringing woodlands which was previously uneconomic to
harvest back into management. Increased demand for woodfuel will
offer a stimulus for landowners and the forestry industry to better
manage Scottish woodland.