Results
VIABILITY & VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Three key results have resulted from the monitoring, sampling and assessment of the five demonstration scale field trials established in the BioReGen Project:
• Firstly, the suitability of reed canarygrass for brownfields or marginal land.
For example yields of the perennial rhizomatous reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinacea ) in three-year trials conducted on brownfield sites exceeded those of either Miscanthus or short-rotation coppice willow by between 1 and 2 orders of magnitude. Annual yields of 4.4 to 6.7 t.ha -1 obtained in the second and third years after planting illustrate the potential productivity of this low cost seeded grass, even on poor quality non-agricultural soils. This is significant from the perspective of the overall sustainability of biomass production, since the use of derelict underutilised land, previously developed industrial land or capped landfills avoids using land otherwise in use or suitable for food production.
• Secondly, the fuel quality of reed canarygrass.
Although the ash contents of reed canarygrass (5.5-12.3 %) is higher than for Miscanthus or coppice willow, the relatively higher proportion of silica compared to alkalis imparts high ash fusion temperatures and lower slagging and fouling issues. Some uptake of potash from the green waste compost used to establish the trials was observed but this was not unduly detrimental to the fuel quality. Low levels of potential contaminants are attributable to cross-contamination from the contaminated soil. However, reed canarygrass does not show the preferential uptake of Zn, Cd or Cu which is characteristic of willow, so can produce a suitably clean fuel from a contaminated site.
• Thirdly, the added environmental value and sustainability benefits of reusing brownfield sites for energy crops.
Perhaps partly as reed canarygrass is a native species, the aesthetic and environmental benefits of establishing such a monoculture habitat, do not appear to be drastically worse in biodiversity terms than the original derelict site. Furthermore, the wider benefits described for the three key results appear to deliver added-value in terms of eco-system services, under each of the four main headings of provision, regulation, supporting, and cultural services (see below). Finally, the project has been able to achieve a financially viable package, since the value of the biomass produced currently has a market and local market value for co-firing which exceeds transport and harvesting costs, partly as in the UK a dedicated energy crop currently attracts two Renewables Obligation Certificates. Two larger scale “Afterlife” projects have been planted and others are in hand to address this market, using the added environmental value to the landowner as environmental collateral to help leverage the necessary funding for the site establishment costs. Ecosystem service categories delivered or enhanced by the BioReGen approach:| Provision | Regulation | Supporting | Cultural |
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Provision Renewable fuel or fibre, no displacement of land from food production
Regulation Dust attenuation, flood attenuation, reduced groundwater contamination, waste diversion (reduced greenhouse emissions)
Supporting Habitat enhancement or creation, carbon sequestration, soil stabilization or creation
Cultural Aesthetic improvements, education & research
