Moffitt Symposium, Newcastle
University
18th September 2007
Oliver Harwood
The Contribution of Renewables to the UK Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy
The Contribution of Renewables
• The key messages of SFFS
• The impact of SFFS on policy
• How this has affected renewables
• The challenge for the countryside
• Some examples
• Conclusions
Sir Don’s Vision
• Reconnecting with the consumer• Delivering healthy safe food• Delivering wider conservation benefits• A profitable industry
The “Daughters” of SFFS and Renewables
• Biomass Task Force
• National Non Food Crops Centre
• Refocused research
• Cross Departmental working
• The role of the Regions
Biomass
• Biomass Task Force
• Biomass Implementation
Advisory Group
• Biomass Strategy
• Woodfuel strategy
Biofuels
• SFFS duty reduction call • The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation• Biofuels and sustainability
• Second generation fuels?
Wider commitments on Renewables
• EU agreement 20% energy by 2020
• 10% biofuel by 2020 (subject to conditions)
• Renewables Obligation
• Long term support for renewable heat?
• CERT, LCBP, Carbon trading
The contribution of land management
• EU Environment agency: 16% by 2020
• EU Commission: impact of 10% biofuels
• RELU study
• Food v Fuel?
• Other land based renewables
Multifunctional land management
• Demands are increasing
• Food and environmental security
• Pervasive market failures
• Role for UK and EU policy
• Securing policy and budget support
The challenge
Energy White Paper targets
• 1m ha energy crops
• 2m T woodfuel from private woodland
• Competitive biofuel crops
• Diversion of waste to Biogas
• 2000 more large wind turbines
• Microgeneration & Energy efficiency on the farm
Some examples of the rural opportunities
What works for you (and your banker)
?
•Biofuels? Wind?
•Biomass heat? Hydro?
•Biogas?
Biofuels: Greenergy
• Both imported and UK feedstock
• Soya, Palm Oil and OSR
• Proportions vary by season
• 300,000T feedstock
• 100,000T biodiesel
• Doubling production next year
Biomass Heat
• Energy supply companies
• Capital costs
• Feedstock supply
• District heating
• Grant problems
Biogas (Anaerobic Digestion)
• Waste processing
• Capital costs
• Grant problems
• “Win Win Win”
• Reduces Methane
Wind
• Capital costs
• Power purchase
• Grid connection
• Neighbour problems
• Lease land out?
Hydro
• Head and flow• Grid connections• New cheap (Chinese) equipment• Renewable Obligation support• A growing market
Conclusions on the options
• Heat viable• Biogas: the next big thing• Biofuel crops at competitive prices• Opportunities for entrepreneurs • New long term incentives required
Conclusions on SFFS
• Renewables do contribute to sustainable farming
• The countryside can do much more• Policy is moving in the right direction• But more needs to be done
Contact
Oliver Harwood MA (Cantab) MRICSChief SurveyorCountry Land and Business Association (CLA)16 Belgrave SquareLondonSW1X 8PQT 0207 235 0511e [email protected]
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