Farm wood fuel and energy project

This paper describes the findings of the Farm Wood Fuel and Energy Project. It began in 1991 and ended in 1997 and was undertaken to provide a commercial demonstration for the establishment of 50 hectares of short rotation coppice (SRC) on six farms in southern England and the development of associated marketing activities. The Project:

• — taught farmers how best to grow the crop and will enable them to teach others;

• — determined that winter conditions in the UK are unsuitable for most harvesting equipment trialled and that both harvesting and chip storage need to be re-examined;

• — demonstrated that SRC has the potential to be competitive with fossil fuels;

• — gave confidence to Government to include a Band for energy crops under the NFFO electricity generating procedures