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Wood and Sustainable Development

Sustainable development can be described as 'a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come.' The UK Government proposes that this aim should be met be meeting four objectives:

• effective protection of the environment
• prudent use of natural resources
• maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment
• social progress which meets the needs of everyone

Using wood fuel can help meet the first three objectives.

Effective Protection for the Environment

The landscape we see today is a result of hundreds of years of management, the woodlands having survived as a result of their value to man. Loss of woodland has a tremendous detrimental impact on biodiversity whereas efficient management benefits biodiversity by creating glades where flora and fauna, such as flowers and butterflies can thrive.

One of the major concerns about the environment today is the issue of climate change. The ever-increasing use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas has led to an increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Using renewable energy such as wood fuel can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. This is because burning wood fuel is almost carbon neutral as the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere when the wood is burned is the same as the carbon absorbed by the tree whilst it is growing. To maintain this cycle of carbon absorption and release, it is important that woodlands are continually replanted or managed in such a way that the overall wood fuel resource is never depleted.

Even processed wood fuel such as wood pellets still have an advantage over fossil fuels because the amount of energy used in their production and transport is very small, compared to the overall amount of carbon emissions saved.

Wood is also a very clean and safe fuel. Unlike oil and nuclear fuel, wood fuel presents no risk if it is accidentally released into the environment. Emissions from burning wood fuel are also very low compared to burning fossil fuels. Wood contains almost no sulphur and very little nitrogen. Burning properly seasoned wood in a stove or boiler especially one designed for use in a smokeless zone does not create a smoke problem. The ash produced when burning wood is also an excellent fertiliser and presents none of the economic and environmental costs of conventional alternatives.


Prudent Use of Natural Resources

Sustainable local sources of wood are key to the success of this fuel as a viable resource. Wood that is felled after the issue of a Felling Licence (issued by the Forestry Commission), from woodland managed under the Woodland Grant Scheme or Forestry Stewardship Council certified wood can all meet the criteria for sustainable wood fuel.

Other sources such as wood from coppicing and tree surgery work can also meet these criteria. With coppicing the original resource regenerates and after a few years is can be harvested again.

The prudent use of natural resources also means that the wood should be burned in the most efficient appliance possible. Burning wood on an open fire, as well as having greater potential for the release of undesirable emissions is also very inefficient, having efficiencies of only 15-20% compared to wood burning stoves, chip and pellet boilers with efficiencies of up to 80-90%. Ultimately, this means less fuel for greater amounts of heat.

Maintenance of High and Stable Levels of Economic Growth and Employment

Wood is a very versatile fuel that can be used to produced both electricity and heat on a large or small scale. Using locally produced wood fuel has the potential to create new opportunities for economic development and employment, especially in rural areas where the wood fuel can be grown and processed. Using locally grown wood fuel makes sense because it keeps the money generated in the local economy and keeps transportation costs down. It also keeps the fuel as carbon neutral as possible because excess energy is not used in transportation. As an indigenous source of energy wood can also overcome concerns about security of supply, an issue of ever increasing concern as more and more of our fossil fuels have to be imported.

Conclusion

>Contrary to what many people think, burning wood to produce energy is an environmentally friendly thing to do. In addition, using wood can make a major contribution to policies aimed at promoting sustainable development.

Log Pile is a project from the National Energy Foundation which was supported by DEFRA.