130 likes | 234 Views
SRC in Europe. Pieter D. Kofman Wood energy consultant to COFORD. General. Strongly increased need for wood fuel Existing sources are running out Increased interest for planting SRC/SRF Like Ireland energy companies offer long term contracts for fuel Total area planted in 2010 ca 3000 ha.
E N D
SRC in Europe Pieter D. Kofman Wood energy consultant to COFORD
General • Strongly increased need for wood fuel • Existing sources are running out • Increased interest for planting SRC/SRF • Like Ireland energy companies offer long term contracts for fuel • Total area planted in 2010 ca 3000 ha
Denmark • Large increase in planting, now exceeding 1200 ha/yr in willow, but aim was 10.000 ha over 3 yrs with €400/ha grant • Planted area >> 4500 ha • Little interest in other species like miscanthus, poplar • Harvesting machinery developed for soft terrain/ cheap harvesting
Sweden • Several years ago very large area (>>25.000 ha), which slowly declined to ca 12.000 ha • Now increasing again • Important sales system for cuttings gone over from Lantmännen (animal feed company) to Salixenergi (specialist willow company), all SW clones
Germany • Plans for 10 CHP installations on SRC, at least 10.000 ha needed • Little interest from farmers • Slowly picking up • Assumedly no biomass available from forests (totally wrong) • Mainly poplar, also willow
Netherlands • Used to be forerunner in early to mid 1900’s , but not for energy • Mainly used for waterworks, protection of dikes • Area nearly totally gone • Now little interest, land too expensive
Poland • Large areas of willow planted • Bioremediation of soils that have been contaminated with heavy metals
Italy • Tradition of growing poplar in SRF, not only for energy but before mainly for paper production • Also very large harvest of coppice sweet chestnut for firewood
Main problems 1 • Convincing farmers to grow a woody species on agricultural land • Convincing farmers to grow a perennial crop • Get farmers to treat SRC as an agricultural crop with weeding, fertilising, game control
Main problems 2 • Solve harvesting problems, cheaper machines that can last • Solve storage problems of wet produce