INSIST ON SAFETY Biomass Opportunities An Environmental Focus Utility Arboriculture Conference 11th...

INSIST ON SAFETY

Biomass OpportunitiesAn Environmental Focus

Utility Arboriculture Conference

11th July 2011Richard PeberdyHead of AssuranceUPM Tilhill

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“Looking beyond the problem”

• What problem? It’s a great opportunity!

2 Friday 21 April 2023


And it’s not just the money that’s good

• All woodfuel systems offer at least a 60% improvement over coal in terms of carbon balance

• All forest biomass systems comply with the minimum greenhouse gas savings stipulated in the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) of 60% by 2018.

• Roundwood fuel systems make a positive contribution to lowering GHG emissions with no negative impacts on soil carbon

• So let’s get harvesting, let’s use the whole resource!



The stems..



The stumps….



The brash….



Everything!



The researchers tell us that for stump removal

• Energy generated from stumps has higher carbon emissions than energy derived from roundwood or brash

• Transport of stumps is highlighted as inefficient (50% of energy inputs)

• Soil carbon changes had far greater effect on carbon emissions than the combination of all other inputs

• So in the forest we have to monitor and control these risks



And for brash removal….


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e.g Controls for stump harvesting

Unusual for 50% of site to be available – often sites are not suitable at all


This is a large and growing industry

And arborists will increasingly get involved

• The generators are investing in plants

• The forestry industry, and “waste” companies are developing supply chains

• AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WOOD FOR EVERYONE!

• And I want to look in more detail at what that means for Arborists, especially in Utilities



Arborists deal with urban trees

Trees treated by us and the public as “individual” and valuable

• And they are valuable for a multitude of reasons

• The shade cools urban areas

• They mitigate flooding events

• They improve the quality of the air



They are places to play



And of course they are homes for all sorts of wildlife



Sometimes life associated with death & decay



And food and products that we like



•Why no power lines in the pictures?

•Because to the public the trees are more important

•D D D…. resilience will mean more trees are considered for felling

•Remember the living, standing tree brings all those benefits – biodiversity, shade, flooding control



We need to recognise this



But not let it turn into this



• We need to recognise the ecological and environmental value of the trees we propose to fell

• We need to have evidence based decisions for what we do and do not fell

• If we let the demand for biomass affect these felling decisions we will lose public confidence.



Looking beyond the problem

• So how do we engage with the biomass opportunities correctly?

• Be aware of the issues

• Have a sound, documented system for reaching decisions

• Recognise the wider values

• 2 final challenges..

• Utilities & Biomass Users give clarity about the material you wish to burn, and remember that there is an important Arb stream available

• Arborists remember what Dr Seuss said:



• “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”


INSIST ON SAFETY Biomass Opportunities An Environmental Focus Utility Arboriculture Conference 11th...

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