The Potential for Eucalyptus as a Wood Fuel in the UK

The Potential for Eucalyptus as a Wood Fuel in the UK. Leslie, A. D., Mencuccini, M., & Perks, M. 89(1):176–182.

Considerable potential exists in the UK for utilising woody biomass, grown under short rotation forestry management systems, to produce electricity or heat. There are benefits to using biomass in generating heat and power the main environmental benefit being from substituting for fossil fuel combustion and consequent carbon emissions. Woody biomass production in short rotation forestry involves growing single stemmed trees rather than coppice over rotations of between 10 and 15~years. Eucalypts are particularly suited to such biomass production as they exhibit relatively high wood density, have suitable chemical characteristics, exhibit low moisture content and can be easily harvested all year around using conventional machinery if single-stemmed growth form is maintained. The UK has a climate that is not well suited to the majority of eucalypts. However, there is a small number of eucalypt species that can withstand the stresses caused by frozen ground and desiccating winds or sub-zero temperatures that can occur. These species are from more southern latitudes and high altitude areas of Australia. However, even the most cold resistant species can be damaged by UK winter climate extremes and therefore careful matching of species to site environmental constraints is critical. Informed decision making is made problematic by the small area and limited distribution of current planting, although it is clear that particularly cold areas and for most species, sites with poor drainage should be generally avoided. This article provides a discussion of the potential of, and constraints to, using eucalypts for biomass in the UK and provides a tentative list of recommended species, their potential growth rates and their advantages and disadvantages. âº Eucalyptus in plantations has potential in the UK as a source of woody biomass. âº Fast early growth enables high productivity over short rotations. âº Unseasonal frosts and unusually cold winters pose a risk. âº It is not clear whether climate change will benefit or hinder use of eucalypts for biomass in the UK. [Excerpt: Conclusions] The interest in using biomass as a source of energy has provided a catalyst for the re-examination of the potential role of eucalypts in short rotation forestry in Britain. Their high productivity can provide substantial yields of biomass, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption and can also reduce operational fossil fuel use by replacement of more energy intensive forms of land use. Existing trials and small plantations of eucalypts have shown that there are a limited range of species of eucalypts that can survive and thrive in the relatively low temperatures prevalent in the UK. The limited distribution and extent of plantings make detailed matching of species to site currently imperfect. A sensible approach is, therefore, to attempt to identify species and provenances that will perform well over a wide range of sites and avoid areas that are particularly cold, have low rainfall and for most species, have poor drainage.

@article{lesliePotentialEucalyptusWood2012,
title = {The Potential for {{Eucalyptus}} as a Wood Fuel in the {{UK}}},
author = {Leslie, A. D. and Mencuccini, M. and Perks, M.},
date = {2012-01},
journaltitle = {Applied Energy},
volume = {89},
pages = {176--182},
issn = {0306-2619},
doi = {10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.07.037},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.07.037},
abstract = {Considerable potential exists in the UK for utilising woody biomass, grown under short rotation forestry management systems, to produce electricity or heat. There are benefits to using biomass in generating heat and power the main environmental benefit being from substituting for fossil fuel combustion and consequent carbon emissions. Woody biomass production in short rotation forestry involves growing single stemmed trees rather than coppice over rotations of between 10 and 15~years. Eucalypts are particularly suited to such biomass production as they exhibit relatively high wood density, have suitable chemical characteristics, exhibit low moisture content and can be easily harvested all year around using conventional machinery if single-stemmed growth form is maintained. The UK has a climate that is not well suited to the majority of eucalypts. However, there is a small number of eucalypt species that can withstand the stresses caused by frozen ground and desiccating winds or sub-zero temperatures that can occur. These species are from more southern latitudes and high altitude areas of Australia. However, even the most cold resistant species can be damaged by UK winter climate extremes and therefore careful matching of species to site environmental constraints is critical. Informed decision making is made problematic by the small area and limited distribution of current planting, although it is clear that particularly cold areas and for most species, sites with poor drainage should be generally avoided. This article provides a discussion of the potential of, and constraints to, using eucalypts for biomass in the UK and provides a tentative list of recommended species, their potential growth rates and their advantages and disadvantages. âº Eucalyptus in plantations has potential in the UK as a source of woody biomass. âº Fast early growth enables high productivity over short rotations. âº Unseasonal frosts and unusually cold winters pose a risk. âº It is not clear whether climate change will benefit or hinder use of eucalypts for biomass in the UK.

[Excerpt: Conclusions]

The interest in using biomass as a source of energy has provided a catalyst for the re-examination of the potential role of eucalypts in short rotation forestry in Britain. Their high productivity can provide substantial yields of biomass, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption and can also reduce operational fossil fuel use by replacement of more energy intensive forms of land use. Existing trials and small plantations of eucalypts have shown that there are a limited range of species of eucalypts that can survive and thrive in the relatively low temperatures prevalent in the UK. The limited distribution and extent of plantings make detailed matching of species to site currently imperfect. A sensible approach is, therefore, to attempt to identify species and provenances that will perform well over a wide range of sites and avoid areas that are particularly cold, have low rainfall and for most species, have poor drainage.},
keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-13780667,~to-add-doi-URL,eucalyptus-spp,forest-resources,fuelwood,short-rotation-forestry,united-kingdom},
number = {1}
}

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However, even the most cold resistant species can be damaged by UK winter climate extremes and therefore careful matching of species to site environmental constraints is critical. Informed decision making is made problematic by the small area and limited distribution of current planting, although it is clear that particularly cold areas and for most species, sites with poor drainage should be generally avoided. This article provides a discussion of the potential of, and constraints to, using eucalypts for biomass in the UK and provides a tentative list of recommended species, their potential growth rates and their advantages and disadvantages. âº Eucalyptus in plantations has potential in the UK as a source of woody biomass. âº Fast early growth enables high productivity over short rotations. âº Unseasonal frosts and unusually cold winters pose a risk. âº It is not clear whether climate change will benefit or hinder use of eucalypts for biomass in the UK. [Excerpt: Conclusions] The interest in using biomass as a source of energy has provided a catalyst for the re-examination of the potential role of eucalypts in short rotation forestry in Britain. Their high productivity can provide substantial yields of biomass, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption and can also reduce operational fossil fuel use by replacement of more energy intensive forms of land use. Existing trials and small plantations of eucalypts have shown that there are a limited range of species of eucalypts that can survive and thrive in the relatively low temperatures prevalent in the UK. The limited distribution and extent of plantings make detailed matching of species to site currently imperfect. 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However, even the most cold resistant species can be damaged by UK winter climate extremes and therefore careful matching of species to site environmental constraints is critical. Informed decision making is made problematic by the small area and limited distribution of current planting, although it is clear that particularly cold areas and for most species, sites with poor drainage should be generally avoided. This article provides a discussion of the potential of, and constraints to, using eucalypts for biomass in the UK and provides a tentative list of recommended species, their potential growth rates and their advantages and disadvantages. âº Eucalyptus in plantations has potential in the UK as a source of woody biomass. âº Fast early growth enables high productivity over short rotations. âº Unseasonal frosts and unusually cold winters pose a risk. âº It is not clear whether climate change will benefit or hinder use of eucalypts for biomass in the UK.\n\n[Excerpt: Conclusions]\n\nThe interest in using biomass as a source of energy has provided a catalyst for the re-examination of the potential role of eucalypts in short rotation forestry in Britain. Their high productivity can provide substantial yields of biomass, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption and can also reduce operational fossil fuel use by replacement of more energy intensive forms of land use. 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