Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs

The ARBRE (ARable Biomass Renewable Energy) project, the first large-scale wood-fueled electricity generating plant in the U.K., represents a significant development in realising British and European policy objectives on renewable energy. The plant is fueled by a mix of wood from short rotation copp...

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Main Authors: Elizabeth Wilson, Pippa J. Chapman, Adrian McDonald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2001-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2001.370
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author Elizabeth Wilson
Pippa J. Chapman
Adrian McDonald
author_facet Elizabeth Wilson
Pippa J. Chapman
Adrian McDonald
author_sort Elizabeth Wilson
collection DOAJ
description The ARBRE (ARable Biomass Renewable Energy) project, the first large-scale wood-fueled electricity generating plant in the U.K., represents a significant development in realising British and European policy objectives on renewable energy. The plant is fueled by a mix of wood from short rotation coppice (SRC) and forest residues. Where feasible, composted/conditioned sewage sludge is applied to coppice sites to increase yields and improve soil structure. In the Yorkshire Water region, typical total N:P:K composition of composted/conditioned sludge is 2.9:3.8:0.3, respectively. Sludge application is calculated on the basis of total nitrogen (N) content to achieve 750 kg N ha-1, for 3 years’ requirement. Willow coppice forms a dense, widely spaced, root network, which, with its long growing season, makes it an effective user of nutrients. This, in combination with willow’s use as a nonfood, nonfodder crop, makes it an attractive route for the recycling of sewage sludge in the absence of sea disposal, banned under the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Further work is required on the nutritional requirements of SRC in order to understand better the quantities of sludge that can be applied to SRC without having a detrimental impact on the environment. This paper suggests the source of N rerouting under the UWWTD and suggests the likely expansion of SRC as an alternative recycling pathway.
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spelling doaj-art-960a7b3737444ea6873f418935bed55e2025-02-03T01:33:28ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2001-01-01174574910.1100/tsw.2001.370Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy NeedsElizabeth Wilson0Pippa J. Chapman1Adrian McDonald2School of Geography, University of Leeds, UKSchool of Geography, University of Leeds, UKSchool of Geography, University of Leeds, UKThe ARBRE (ARable Biomass Renewable Energy) project, the first large-scale wood-fueled electricity generating plant in the U.K., represents a significant development in realising British and European policy objectives on renewable energy. The plant is fueled by a mix of wood from short rotation coppice (SRC) and forest residues. Where feasible, composted/conditioned sewage sludge is applied to coppice sites to increase yields and improve soil structure. In the Yorkshire Water region, typical total N:P:K composition of composted/conditioned sludge is 2.9:3.8:0.3, respectively. Sludge application is calculated on the basis of total nitrogen (N) content to achieve 750 kg N ha-1, for 3 years’ requirement. Willow coppice forms a dense, widely spaced, root network, which, with its long growing season, makes it an effective user of nutrients. This, in combination with willow’s use as a nonfood, nonfodder crop, makes it an attractive route for the recycling of sewage sludge in the absence of sea disposal, banned under the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Further work is required on the nutritional requirements of SRC in order to understand better the quantities of sludge that can be applied to SRC without having a detrimental impact on the environment. This paper suggests the source of N rerouting under the UWWTD and suggests the likely expansion of SRC as an alternative recycling pathway.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2001.370
spellingShingle Elizabeth Wilson
Pippa J. Chapman
Adrian McDonald
Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
The Scientific World Journal
title Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
title_full Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
title_fullStr Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
title_full_unstemmed Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
title_short Merging Nitrogen Management and Renewable Energy Needs
title_sort merging nitrogen management and renewable energy needs
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2001.370
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AT pippajchapman mergingnitrogenmanagementandrenewableenergyneeds
AT adrianmcdonald mergingnitrogenmanagementandrenewableenergyneeds