Coleg Glynllifon Biomass Event

 

With recent rises in oil and gas prices, and concerns about global warming, increasing interest is being shown in energy from Biomass.  Last Wednesday (28th September), over 50 people attended a biomass event held at Coleg Glynllifon.  The event was organised jointly by the Centre for Alternative Land Use (CALU) and the Institute for Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER).

 

Biomass is a potential renewable energy source.  The two crops seen as the key sources of biomass fuel in Wales are Short Rotation Willow Coppice and the energy grass Miscanthus (commonly known as Elephant Grass).  Coleg Glynllifon is leading the way for biomass trials in north Wales, and both willow and Miscanthus trials have been established at the college in conjunction with CALU and IGER

 

The event began with a presentation from Dr John Valentine of IGER’s Willow for Wales project.  Dr Valentine explained how growing biomass energy crops can help to slow the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide because it is “carbon neutral”.  Chris Duller, also of the Willows for Wales project, then explained how short rotation coppice (SRC) is planted, managed and harvested.  Chris Duller explained that once the crop has been established the costs and management inputs are low - just harvesting the crop on a three year cycle.

 

CALU’s Biomass Advisor, Dr Rebecca Heaton, discussed the cultivation and economics of Miscanthus.  She also gave an overview of two other grass crops which are being trialled at Glynllifon: Reed Canary Grass and Switchgrass. Dr Heaton explained that as all these grasses are perennial crops, once they have been planted there is a minimum of management involved, except for the annual harvesting.  For farmers, a major advantage of energy grasses is that they can be harvested with conventional agricultural machinery.

Miscanthus cropping is already a commercial reality for many farmers in the east of England,’ said Dr Heaton. ‘We already know how to grow and harvest it – and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t take off in Wales as well.’

 

The main barrier to increased production of biomass crops at the moment is the perceived lack of markets. However, Edward Jones from EGNI Biomass demonstrated a small scale heating boiler which could burn crops and supply on-farm heat. Energy crops can be grown on set-aside land and still be eligible for the SFP.  As this is a way of using otherwise unproductive land to supply domestic heat needs it is an attractive option. If biomass crops are grown on non set-aside then the land is still eligible for SFP, plus an extra ‘Energy Aid’ payment of £29/ha. Other end-uses which Mr Jones mentioned included the possibility of supplying several heating installations (schools, community halls etc) and so bringing economies of scale, and selling the crops to coal power stations for co-firing.

 

The presentations were followed by a tour of the crop demonstration sites at Glynllifon.  The sites cover several hectares at Glynllifon and provide a unique opportunity in north Wales to see a variety of biomass crops.  Despite the driving rain and strong winds, visitors were very interested to see the crops in the ground.

 

For more information on growing energy crops and the potential financial returns, please contact CALU (01248 680 450 calu@bangor.ac.uk) who have produced a range of technical information notes on the subject.


 

EDITORS NOTE:

 

The Centre for Alternative Land Use (CALU) is one of a network of Farming Connect Agricultural Development Centres. 

 

For more information about CALU’s services ring 01248 680450 or email calu@bangor.ac.uk

For general Farming Connect information and details of your local facilitator ring 08456 000813 or visit www.farmingconnect.co.uk

 

Farming Connect offers a range of services to help farming families adapt to changes in the industry, to become more sustainable and to better understand the market place.