SRC in EuropeSRC in Europe

Pieter D. KofmanPieter D. Kofman

Wood energy consultant to Wood energy consultant to COFORDCOFORD

GeneralGeneral

• Strongly increased need for wood fuelStrongly increased need for wood fuel

• Existing sources are running outExisting sources are running out

• Increased interest for planting SRC/SRFIncreased interest for planting SRC/SRF

• Like Ireland energy companies offer long Like Ireland energy companies offer long term contracts for fuelterm contracts for fuel

• Total area planted in 2010 ca 3000 haTotal area planted in 2010 ca 3000 ha

DenmarkDenmark

• Large increase in planting, now exceeding Large increase in planting, now exceeding 1200 ha/yr in willow, but aim was 10.000 1200 ha/yr in willow, but aim was 10.000 ha over 3 yrs with €400/ha grantha over 3 yrs with €400/ha grant

• Planted area >> 4500 haPlanted area >> 4500 ha

• Little interest in other species like Little interest in other species like miscanthus, poplarmiscanthus, poplar

• Harvesting machinery developed for soft Harvesting machinery developed for soft terrain/ cheap harvestingterrain/ cheap harvesting

SwedenSweden

• Several years ago very large area Several years ago very large area (>>25.000 ha), which slowly declined (>>25.000 ha), which slowly declined to ca 12.000 hato ca 12.000 ha

• Now increasing againNow increasing again

• Important sales system for cuttings Important sales system for cuttings gone over from Lantmännen (animal gone over from Lantmännen (animal feed company) to Salixenergi (specialist feed company) to Salixenergi (specialist willow company), all SW cloneswillow company), all SW clones

GermanyGermany

• Plans for 10 CHP installations on SRC, Plans for 10 CHP installations on SRC, at least 10.000 ha neededat least 10.000 ha needed

• Little interest from farmersLittle interest from farmers

• Slowly picking upSlowly picking up

• Assumedly no biomass available Assumedly no biomass available from forests (totally wrong)from forests (totally wrong)

• Mainly poplar, also willowMainly poplar, also willow

NetherlandsNetherlands

• Used to be forerunner in early to mid Used to be forerunner in early to mid 1900’s , but not for energy1900’s , but not for energy

• Mainly used for waterworks, Mainly used for waterworks, protection of dikesprotection of dikes

• Area nearly totally goneArea nearly totally gone

• Now little interest, land too Now little interest, land too expensiveexpensive

PolandPoland

• Large areas of willow plantedLarge areas of willow planted

• Bioremediation of soils that have Bioremediation of soils that have been contaminated with heavy been contaminated with heavy metalsmetals

ItalyItaly

• Tradition of growing poplar in SRF, Tradition of growing poplar in SRF, not only for energy but before mainly not only for energy but before mainly for paper productionfor paper production

• Also very large harvest of coppice Also very large harvest of coppice sweet chestnut for firewoodsweet chestnut for firewood

Main problems 1Main problems 1

• Convincing farmers to grow a woody Convincing farmers to grow a woody species on agricultural landspecies on agricultural land

• Convincing farmers to grow a Convincing farmers to grow a perennial cropperennial crop

• Get farmers to treat SRC as an Get farmers to treat SRC as an agricultural crop with weeding, agricultural crop with weeding, fertilising, game controlfertilising, game control

Main problems 2Main problems 2

• Solve harvesting problems, cheaper Solve harvesting problems, cheaper machines that can lastmachines that can last

• Solve storage problems of wet Solve storage problems of wet produceproduce