It is over two years since I posted here that the new ESQCR Regulations should force the Utilities to consider changing their Vegetation Management strategies. Well, nothing much has changed since that time - the tree cutting world still looks very much like it has always done.
Even the showcase National Utility Arboricultural Conference back in July was poorly attended when compared to the previous year - nearly all of the Utilities hadn't even bothered to send delegates, never mind make a contribution.
Now the Utilities have the climate change specter looming over them, threatening a "30% increase in tree growth by 2020". I fear that even this won't shake them out of their apathy.
Study shows faster tree growth poses challenge for power networks
Electricity network companies will have to revise vegetation management strategies following results from a study which has shown that trees are growing faster in the warmer, wetter conditions caused by climate change. That is the key finding from early data collected during a collaborative large-scale study led by environmental consultancy ADAS and five major utility companies.
The study, which began in 2008, is the first of its kind to investigate the effect of climate change on vegetation growth patterns for UK utilities like energy transmission and distribution companies.
The project used forecast climate change data from 2020 and 2050 and current growth rates to predict future growth rates right across the UK. This showed a potentially strong relationship between growth rates and climate with some areas showing a 30 per cent increase in growth rates by 2020.
Study leader Jon Abbatt, a principal consultant with ADAS, said: "Ultimately, if climate change predictions materialise as expected, energy utility companies will have to cope with trees growing much faster. They will need to change their vegetation management strategies to continue to ensure the safety of their networks and the security of electricity supply to consumers".
The study, which involved the National Grid, Central Networks, Electricity North West Ltd, Scottish Power and EDF Energy Networks, analysed vegetation growth data collected periodically from 1,665 sites from the South East to the North West of the UK since 2008.