Biomass (plant and wood matter) could help the UK meet its target of generating 10% of electricity from renewable resources by 2010. Drax Power in Selby, Yorkshire, the UK's largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station, has launched a project to make that happen, using principally short rotation coppice (SRC)* willow and roundwood.

Phase One, whose aim was to identify and resolve any problems with 'processing' (supplying, transporting and handling) has been completed successfully. Phase Two, to ensure a smooth transition from processing into one of the station's 'direct injection' burners, has now begun.

Local farming and forestry have already benefited by planting and selling 1,100 hectares of willow. If the project succeeds it will bring more wealth and employment to the area. The rest of us will benefit from both cleaner air and reduced CO2 emissions.

If you are interested in converting your heating system to wood chip or wood pellet power, or to find a local source of wood pellets, contact: Wood Energy Ltd., Pinkworthy Barn, Oakford, Tiverton EX16 9EU Tel.: 01398 351349

Ed.- (i) The use of densified fuels such as pellets and briquettes are projected to become the predominant biofuel in the UK. Pellets are suited to use in automatic fuel feed domestic boilers and in converted domestic oil fired boilers. The costs of conversion are recouped quite quickly. The cost of producing one kilowatt/hour of electricity by burning wood pellets is said to be around 2.6 pence, which is roughly the same as oil, but a lot cheaper than gas (5-6 pence) or electricity (8-9 pence).

(ii) The CO2 emitted by the burner is balanced by the CO2 absorbed by the willows when growing. Sweden already meets 10% of its energy needs from wood-burning power stations. Studies suggest that the UK could meet 40% of its energy needs in this way.

(iii) In October 2004 the UK Government invested £3.5 million in a Bio-Energy Infrastructure Scheme to develop the generation of electricity from biomass.

(iv) Since 2001 the UK Department of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) has offered farmers up to £1,600 a hectare to develop biomass crop production.

* Coppice harvested on a two to five (usually three) year cycle. In the UK, yields achievable from willow SRC at first harvest are expected to be in the range 7 to 12 oven dry tonnes per hectare per year depending on site and efficiency of establishment. New varieties are expected to greatly increase yields.