Biomass Industry Sharing Good Practice Event Biomass Energy & the Natural Heritage Policy Statement Emma Jordan

Outline + SNH Renewables Policy + Overall Position on Biomass + Natural Heritage Issues by Biomass Type + Next Steps

SNH Policy on Renewable Energy A strategic approach: guide towards locations and technologies most easily accommodated within Scotland’s landscapes and habitats Support development of renewable energy subject to due care for the natural heritage: Safeguard nationally and internationally important areas

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION Least Natural Heritage Impact Wave farms Tidal stream Offshore Wind Tidal barrage Most Natural Heritage Impact Biomass CHP Onshore wind Large-scale hydro Fossil CHP Gas Coal Nuclear ??

SNH Position on Biomass + SNH supports the role of a biomass industry in helping to combat climate change impacts in the electricity, heat and transport sector + Need to develop good practice guidance to ensure adverse impacts on the natural heritage are minimised and potential benefits are realised + Support the use of life cycle assessments and accreditation schemes to ensure the most environmentally- friendly resources are developed

GHG Emissions + Loss of soil carbon & other GHG emissions through changes in land use + Need to minimise transport requirements Overall, emissions can depend on crop management, transport and processing requirements

Forestry sources Do:Benefits: More forest thinningbiodiversity Leave some forest brashsoil & water Only coppice semi-natural woodsbiodiversity Use UK Woodland Assurance Standard Don’t:Impacts: Use exceptionally heavy equipmentsoil structure Plant up semi-natural landbiodiversity Harvest historic woodlandbiodiversity Harvest forests on high carbon soilsrelease CO2 Extract scrub and deadwoodbiodiversity

Short-rotation coppice Do:Benefits: Use mixed speciesbiodiversity, landscape Retain residues on the soilmaintain soil nutrients Locate to minimise transportreduce CO2 Coppice cyclicallybiodiversity, landscape Limit use of fertiliser & pesticidesbiodiversity, water quality Don’t:Impacts: Replace high quality set-asidebiodiversity Dry out valued wetlandbiodiversity Block recreational accesswell-being Allow biotoxicity to build uphealth

Crops for transport biofuels Do:Benefits: Retain overwinter stubblebiodiversity Avoid fertiliser run-offbiodiversity, water quality Comply with GAEC conditionsbiodiversity, soil quality Cyclical harvesting biodiversity, soil quality Don’t:Impacts: Replace high quality set-asidebiodiversity Plant GM varieties unless controlledbiodiversity Import unsustainable imports biodiversity

Next Steps + Draft policy will be issued for consultation shortly with SEA Environmental Report + Comments from today will be considered! + Final policy to be issued early 2007