CROPS GROWN TO GENERATE POWER
Friendly fuels are now being grown in Lincolnshire to generate electricity.
Friendly fuels are now being grown in Lincolnshire to generate electricity.Roger Burtt, of Hougham, has already planted 50 acres of miscanthus – a grass similar to bamboo – which is burned at coal-fired power stations.
Mr Burtt, who took over Laughton's Farm about 16 years ago after leaving the family farm at neighbouring Brandon, now plans to plant a further 70 acres. He will no longer grow crops that need combining.
He said: "The beauty of miscanthus is that you only have to sow it once. It takes two years to grow, the first yield is small, but after that you just harvest every year. Because of the way it grows, there is no need for fertilisers or chemicals because it chokes them out."
Miscanthus, also known as elephant grass, is a woody, perennial grass, growing to three to four metres in height.
It produces new shoots annually which produce erect, robust stems and appear similar to thin bamboo cane, having a diameter of approximately 10mm.
Several species have been cultivated in Europe for many years as ornamentals, although its potential for
energy production goes back 20 years.
Miscanthus is one of several coarse grasses under investigation for biomass production and fibre production.
Apart from energy production, it is used for thatching, animal bedding, bio-degradable plant pots and MDF boards.
Mr Burtt said: "Willow is another crop which can be used in a similar way. But I have a 10-year contract with a power station for miscanthus and if I change my mind at the end of it, I can revert to something else. With the deep roots of willow, that would be more difficult. This is excellent for small farmers. On small acreages you can't live off rape or wheat – while I can budget for the next 10 years.
"I planted this in May and the only time I need to use any energy is once a year for harvesting. Energy crops are encouraged by Government and there are no chemicals, fertilisers or rotation after the first year. There is definitely a place for these crops in farming but like everything in agriculture since the war, it's politically driven. Even so, the crop looks good and it's very exciting."
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Wednesday 17 March 2010
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