Development of sustainable heat and power, fuelled by biomass from short rotation coppice in Wales
 
     
Helig i Gymru – Willow for Wales - aims and objectives

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Objective 1 priority / measure 2.5 project through the Welsh European Funding Office on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, by the Welsh Development Agency and by Industry. It is co-ordinated by IGER and also involves Cardiff University, the Forestry Commission, and EGNI, Mid-Wales Energy Agency, RWE npower, Renewable Energy Ltd, SW Seed Ltd and Agrobransle.

The objective is to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of short rotation coppice willow as a biomass crop in Wales. The consortium represents interests and knowledge of the crop and its marketing into energy generation systems. An important aspect of the project is that it engages farmers as partners in establishing crop test sites and as potential commercial producers. Growing willow for energy will not affect the Single Farm Payment as long as the grower has a contract with an energy user.

The main aims of the project are:
  • To demonstrate growing systems suitable for the commercial production, harvest and storage/transport of willow at a commercial farm scale.
  • To assess the yield potential on a range of sites on improved grassland or arable land in Wales.
  • To evaluate the economic impact of growing the crop on individual farm businesses.
  • To evaluate the impact of the crop on the landscape and environmental biodiversity.
  • To provide a forum for communication between producers and users of the crop for energy generation.
  • To make information about the crop and the results of the evaluation sites available to farmers in Wales by published reports and site-based meetings and discussion.

For a visual presentation of the project and its objectives, see Willow for Wales Project.