Scottish Coal, today (Tuesday 13 April 2004) announced plans to launch Scotland's first willow tree energy crop nursery near Vogrie Estate Country Park, Gorebridge in Midlothian, creating new jobs in the area.
Scottish Coal sees the growing of fuel-of-the-future crops potentially creating several thousand jobs in Scotland over the next ten years, provided industry, central government and local authorities can work together to realise this aim.
Due to open this summer on a 15-hectare site near to Vogrie Country Park, the Chesters Wood Energy Plantation will be home to up to 0.5 million willow seedlings, which will be brought on for transplanting to willow coppice plantations across Scotland.
The trees yield a biomass energy crop every three to four years, which is chipped or baled then processed as a biofuel, used on its own or mixed with coal as a combi-fuel for electricity or heat generation. Scottish Coal has identified a clear commercial exit for growers of willow energy crop, with power generators having already expressed satisfaction following trials with combi-fuel.
Dacre Purchase, Development Director, commented, "Willow is an essential part of Scotland's effort to develop a thriving market for renewable fuels, which will create thousands of jobs and benefit the environment.
"UK electricity generators are crying out for biofuels to meet their commitments under Renewables Obligation rules. Scotland's private and public sectors need to work together to deliver energy crops on a serious scale or overseas growers will grasp the opportunity from Scotland.
"The Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme is a reasonable start, but Scotland compares unfavourably with crop producers in England and Wales who are given £1,600 per hectare, compared with just £600 per hectare here in Scotland. We hope this anomaly can be overcome as the nursery is established."
Energy crops are greenhouse-gas-neutral, absorbing carbon dioxide during their growth cycle and releasing carbon dioxide when converted to energy. Willow trees each produce around three harvests, making them a sustainable energy source and being visually attractive, they contribute to Scotland's biodiversity.
Dacre Purchase added, "We believe it's vital for Scotland to have a mix of strategic energy sources for the future. We cannot afford to create an over-reliance on gas, for which Scotland will shortly be at the mercy of overseas suppliers. Scotland still has several years worth of coal reserves, but we're conscious that this is a finite resource, which will decline as renewables such as willow and wind power become more established."
Willow coppice plantation and harvesting is part of Scottish Coal's diversification, which as well as renewable energy includes windfarm development, biodiversity and recycling. As the UK's second biggest coal producer, the company already has the bulk handling skills and transport network in place to take energy crops from field to feedstock for power generation.
