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
The event began with a presentation from Dr
John Valentine of IGER’s
CALU’s Biomass Advisor, Dr
‘Miscanthus
cropping is already a commercial reality for many farmers in the east of
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
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.