Short Rotation Forestry, Short Rotation Coppice and energy grasses in the European Union: Agro-environmental aspects, present use and perspectives Introduction to background paper Rothamsted, 17 October 2007 Jan-Erik Petersen, EEA 1 Objectives for background paper To provide a common basis for discussion To give a structured overview of key issues related to the production and environmental effects of permanent energy crops To review current data and information on: Crop choice and production parameters Current extent of plantations + critical factors for expanding the production of permanent energy crops Agro-environmental aspects + research How can the paper be improved? What are the next steps to take for further analysis at European level? 2
Section 2.1 + 2.2: Review of crop species, potential yields and area This section reviews standard information and relies mainly on review articles in literature; comments are requested on: Are the most important crop species covered? Tables 1 + 2 complete and correct? Yield and area data in table 3 complete and correct? Sections 2.3 + 2.4: Economic aspects and main barriers to implementation It was difficult to find up-to-date + comparable data on production costs and income. The section on barriers to implementation is taken from the IEA report on this issue. Comments are invited on: Are tables 5 + 6 complete and correct? Should section 2.3.1 be completed? Is it worth or necessary to try updating the IEA work on technical and non-technical barriers?
Chapter 3: agro-environmental aspects I The link between bio-energy cropping and environmental aspects is complex (multitude of factors; direct and indirect effects) We aimed to follow a structured approach: Distinction of land use change + farm management practices Review of potential impacts covers different environm. themes: soil and water resources, biodiversity and landscapes Presentation of potential synergies Does this structure work? Should the emphasis be different? Did we forget anything important? 20-21/09/2007 Paris, France CAP&WFD Conference organised by Chapter 3: agro-environmental aspects II Potential impacts related to land use change: Depend very much on crop replaced Effects on soil and water are generally positive, but water consumption by crops emerges as an important issue Biodiversity and landscape effects can be very big and also negative; are scale-dependent Any specific comments or additional information?
Chapter 3: agro-environmental aspects III Effects of different management practices: Look at different crop phases: establishment, growth, harvesting, clearance Risks to soil and water resources lower than with annual crops (also in clearance phase?) Consider water demand as important issue Landscape and biodiversity depend on spacing and scale of plantation Any specific comments or additional information? Chapter 3: agro-environmental aspects IV Examples of potential synergies: Create flood retention zones by using permanent energy crops Establish riparian buffer strips Combine waste water treatment and biomass production Are these the right examples? Other comments? 8
Chapter 4: Research and further perspectives This is the most incomplete chapter but further time resources were lacking. Comments are requested on: Should Figure 1 be improved? Keep list of research projects? Only where weblinks are found? Any other important issues to be reviewed? Views + comments on preliminary conclusions? Revision of background document Further work is clearly required Resources are limited.. We are interested in concrete data/information Please provide feedback by 31 October Comments to: Jan-Erik.Petersen@eea.europa.eu 10
Relevant EU policy targets for 2010/20? 12 % renewable energy (20% by 2020) 21 % renewables electricity 200,000 5.75 % biofuels (10% by 2020) Double/ 150,000 >triple bioenergy use geothermal solar wind hydro 100,000 Thousand TOE 50,000 biomass 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2020 11 Source: Eurostat for past data: EEA for projections Please note: 2010 are modelled data, not policy targets! The environmentally compatible bioenergy potential, EU-25 12
Environmental issues of energy cropping Pathways & Energy Cropping Approaches Land use change & availability Bioenergy & Water Impacts of Cropping practices Impacts of Conversion processes 13 Bioenergy sources and pathways 14
Thank you for your attention! Jan-Erik Petersen European Environment Agency Telephone : +45 3336 7133 Jan-Erik.Petersen@eea.europa.eu http://reports.eea.europa. eu/eea_report_2006_7/en www.eea.europa.eu 15