Request for Proposal - Biomass

16th March 2010

Requests for Proposals relating to this project are now closed:

Ecosystem Land-Use Modelling and Soil Carbon GHG Flux Field Trial

The response of ecosystems to anthropogenic land use change will play a crucial role in the overall life cycle benefits and hence arguments for, the widespread implementation of Bioenergy Crops to reduce the equivalent carbon intensity (CI) of fuels for heat, power and transportation. Data on which to assess these impacts at regional and global scales in order to minimise land use change (LUC) impacts on ecosystem function is currently in short supply. To understand the effects of LUC into Bioenergy Crops on ecosystem function, will require the identification and quantification of key ecosystem service indicators, such as carbon sequestration, that encompass both the sustainability and CI of a biofuel.

The UK Gallagher Review of the Bio-fuels sector in 2008 highlighted that due to uncertainties in measuring and monitoring the CO₂e life cycle analysis for bio-fuels (due to direct and indirect land-use changes); that the UK should be more cautious in its progress towards bio-fuels, until these could be monitored appropriately.  Globally, land-use change accounts for over 20% of annual CO₂e emissions.
While there is much work being conducted internationally in the bio-fuels standards arena; there is limited work being conducted on integrated land-use management in the UK context, especially on soil carbon responses to significant increases in land converted to Bioenergy Crops. Soils contain more carbon than the above ground vegetation and atmosphere combined and function as major sources and potential sinks of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases (GHG).  Soil management practices therefore play a crucial role in the development of sustainable strategies for bio-energy crop production.