Refining Estimates of Land for Biomass - RELB: Job implications of establishing a bioenergy market

Abstract:

ETI analysis suggests that the UK needs to plant 30 kha/yr of bioenergy crops and Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) until the mid-2050’s to deliver the required level of feedstock to meet the UK’s 2050 greenhouse gas targets cost-effectively. Of the area of bioenergy crops planted, this study assumes that 50% of the area will be SRF, 25% SRC and 25% Miscanthus. The significant increase in bioenergy crop area planted will require an increase in the number of people employed in the bioenergy crop sector from current levels, as well as an increase in the supply chain (market for end products, machinery available for planting/harvesting etc.) to support this increased area. This work focused on identifying, and quantifying the types of jobs required to support a UK bioenergy sector, understanding what skills are needed, where the current skills gaps are, whether there are any barriers to job development, and identifying the timescales of jobs / skills development needed to meet ETI’s targets. The scope of the work covers the UK and considers job creation in relation to the production of SRF, SRC and Miscanthus, with additional implications for achieving the UK Afforestation targets also considered. Job creation up to the point of first processing is included e.g. transport off farm, but any jobs after that initial journey off farm, e.g. processing, are not included. Ancillary jobs (such as administration roles, finance and marketing within companies in the bioenergy feedstock sector) are also excluded

Publication Year:

2016

Publisher:

ETI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5286/UKERC.EDC.000040

Author(s):

Wynn, S., Carter, R., Turner, C., and Huxley, C.