Biomass assessments for local authorities - a case study

A dataset provding a comprehensive dataset outlining the quantities of some biomass resources available to Leeds City Council and the methodology used can also act as a guideline of assessment techniques suitable for other local councils to use in their own biomass assessments.

Case study

The aim of this study was to characterise and quantify the waste biomass resources available to Leeds City Council, calculating the annual mass available and the corresponding potential annual energy output from such resources.

This is to form part of the solid evidence base that is required for Local Planning Authorities to incorporate local forms of renewable energies into their development plans.

Various waste biomasses were assessed, as well as the future potential of these resources if further alterations to the strategic running of LCC were made.

A hierarchy of biomass quantification techniques was created with the aim of producing a methodology that other local councils can follow in their own biomass assessments.

The technique was successfully applied, giving an annual current biomass potential of (55±8)×10³ tonnes per annum, equivalent to (19±7)×10⁷ MJ/year, with a potential future annual mass and energy of (90±9)×10⁵ tonnes and (20±5)×10⁹ MJ/year.

A MJ or megajoule is the equivalent of a one tonne vehicle moving at 160km/hour.

Further information

The case study was produced by Daisy Thomas, University of Leeds, in conjunction with Leeds City Council

The holistic report was produced by Daisy Thomas, Charlotte Weaver and Weiyi Yao, Universtiy of Leeds in conjunction with Leeds City Council. 

For further information you can contact Daisy at py11dbt@leeds.ac.uk