Sustainable Biomass
Arboriculture waste, the management of existing woodland can be significant in producing a renewable green source of heat for different sizes of applications.Actions: Formation of a supply company to address continuity and quality of renewable energy (biomass) that can be grown and harvested. Linked to need and regional plan for developing renewable energy generation. The development of a forest management plan by the majority of woodland owners to maximise returns and optimise the potential for woodland planting. Environmental improvement and habitat management to aid biodiversity and increase species numbers and diversity.
Beneficiaries: Growers, processors, end users and the general population that will benefit from the reduced production of carbon dioxide and increase in green planting
Development opportunities
| Advice on woodland management | |
| Evidence: The Mersey Forest (The Mersey Forest Plan www.merseyforest.org.uk) | SWOT: Biomass production and use low, increasing costs of fuel and power. |
| Crop development | |
| Evidence: Northwest Woodfuel biomass Strategy (GONW /CFNW 2007) | SWOT: Good range of knowledge based business in Mersey Rural Leader. |
| Processing | |
| Evidence: Timber stations feasability study (www.merseyforest.org.uk/files/Tsreport_v1.pdf) | SWOT: Limited promotion of rural Merseyside as a location for business, the number of potential opportunity sites within the rural area located near to service centres. |
| Product development | |
| Evidence: Local areas agreements The Merton rule (www.themertonrule.org) | SWOT:Evidence of strong entrepreneurial spirit and use of technology to innovate among rural businesses, perception amongst farming community that it is not worth investing in higher value crop production, planning and development control cited as a major constraint on business development, increasing costs of fuel and power. |
| Sales and marketing | |
| Evidence: A woodfuel strategy for England (Forestry Commission 2007) The Mersey Forest (The Mersey Forest Plan www.merseyforest.org.uk England Biodiversity Strategy (www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/biodiversity/biostrat) | SWOT: Rural Merseyside is not taking full advantage of the high quality agricultural land to maximise farm incomes and so is losing out on its “Productive Landscape” (CIAT), increasing cost of power and fuel, increasing national focus on renewable energy, lack of woodland management capacity. Limited promotion of rural Merseyside as a location for business. Biomass production and use low. The biodiversity value of farmland. Increasing focus on green infrastructure. Lack of woodland management leading to a decline in landscape and asset value. |
The Aims of the Biomass vision are:-
- By March 2011, 3 events to promote woodfuel production to be held.
- By July 2011, 4 forest holders to be supported to develop sustainable harvesting of woodfuel from their woodlands.
- By Dec 2011 advice to be provided to 25 undertakings on woodland management, crop development, processing, product development, sales and marketing.
- By Dec 2012, over 50% of the area of woodlands on Merseyside to have sustainable forest management plans.
- By March 2013, one supply company to be assisted to form, to address continuity and quality of renewable energy (biomass) that can be grown and harvested
Proposed intervention
Proposed intervention for Support Mersey grant is 40% to a maximum of £100K. The minimum grant level is £2k for a £5k project, Eligible expenditure is an invoice supported by a cheque of bank transfer with evidence of defrayment from a bank statement. CASH PAYMENTS are ineligible items of expenditure.
The project has to demonstrates additional turnover and Gross Value Added (GVA) this a measure of a business that is made up of wage costs, depreciation, interest payments and profit.
Funding is only available to trading enteritis (sole traders, partnerships, Limited companies, social enterprises, charities and cooperatives).
Download expression of interest form (200kb WORD DOC)
Contact for further information
Help@merseyruralleader.org.uk
Tel 01514432297
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