IN a difficult economic climate , it is essential to keep our sights on preserving the environment , whilst continuing to innovate and improve the ways that we provide global energy solutions . Using wood biomass for energy generation , Energy Crops Consultancy has launched its first strategy to provide one of those solutions .

Due to the latest renewable energy targets in Britain , there is an increasing demand for biomass , woodchip or biofuel . The most ideal solution to this will always be a crop with high yield , high energy value and one that improves the soil for future use .

Energy crops are low-cost and low-maintenance , grown mainly for energy production by combustion . They can offer a multitude of benefits , from increasing revenue and minimizing workload , to creating sustainable rich environments for wildlife .

Sustainable energy solutions

Energy crops have recently been highlighted by the Climate Change Committee in their January report ‘ Land Use : Policies for a Net Zero UK ’, with one of its key findings being to encourage bioenergy crops – expanding the planting of UK energy crops to around 23,000 hectares each year .

There is now the space , science and knowledge to combine a healthy environment with prosperous farming within our landscape , increasing and introducing native wildlife habitats , whilst providing a profitable and sustainable end product . Most importantly , energy crops need not be in direct competition with food production , but instead complement your other farming activities as part of your farm mix .

Not only this , but farms nationwide ( and globally ) are only an upgrade away from developing their income sources into reliable and strong streams with real longevity . Neil Watkins says , “ I ’ ve calculated energy crops investments for hundreds of farms over the years , but I have also been on the buyer side and know how they think .” Being a pioneer in the growing of energy crops has provided him with extensive real-world hands on experience and he is well acquainted with the challenges a grower may face .

From field to furnace

Short Rotation Coppice ( SRC ) consists mostly of densely planted , high-yielding varieties of willow and sometimes poplar harvested on a two to four year cycle . The

rootstock or stump is left in the soil , after which it grows back , as new shoots emerge each harvest . If the land floods , harvest can be rolled over to the year following , with no loss to the grower .

SRC is possible to be grown on good to marginal land as well as reclaimed land as it is a perennial crop with very low requirements for use of pesticides or other annual arable operations , since it has lower labour requirements in comparison with alternatives . Willow typically reaches a height of seven to eight metres upon harvest , and from the time it is established it can be harvested every three years , expected to be viable for 30 years before it requires replanting .

When harvested , the crop is converted into wood chips which are used for energy production . For willow , this is possible in both small-scale boilers and large-scale heating plants . At the end of its productive life , the coppice can be mulched back in and the land reverted to traditional cropping or another SRC willow crop .

Why willow ?

SRC willow provides exceptionally high yield and energy value . It thrives under good SRC management , and is extremely compatible with all weather conditions even soil types of northern England and Scotland !.

Neil describes willow as the UK ’ s equivalent of bamboo . “ It ’ s fast growing and high yielding with expected yields of 9-14 oven-dried tonnes ( ODT ) a year . It can grow on even some of the poorest land or good land and is a very low input crop ,” he says .

Poplars and willows are especially suitable for creating short rotation plantations as they are the fastest growing tree species in our climate zone , bringing high yields and sprouting again from the rootstock after harvesting . A short rotation plantation can therefore be harvested several times over a period of up to 30 years .

Crucially , growing willow does not require any permissions for changes of land use to woodland , given that SRC willow / poplar or miscanthus is classified in the UK as an agricultural crop . Neil explains , “ We only use varieties that have no known disease and have been thoroughly trialed and tested with performance test data to back them up .”

Biodiversity value

The biodiversity of short rotation plantations is very high which makes for a great early pollination site for bees , as they are a good mix with arable crops .

Further to this , the biodiversity value of SRC willow can be seen in its attraction of 260 other positive bugs , evident in