Energy Crops are grown on demonstration plots beside the National Energy Centre.
This photograph was taken 4 months after they had been cut or coppiced, showing rapid re-growth.
The National Energy Centre in Milton Keynes is a focal point for the Sustainable Use of Energy in the United Kingdom. Over the next 50 years, energy crops (biomass) are likely to become an important source of the UK's energy, so four small demonstration plots have been planted in the grounds of the centre. Three are illustrated here:
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| Willow is generally grown in coppices on a short rotation cycle of 3-4 years. The plants shown here are 2 years old. |
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In common with most grass-based energy crops, switchgrass is cut annually, and regrows the following season. This photograph was taken in mid-October, shortly before its annual harvesting. |
| Poplar can be grown in coppices as an alternative to willow. Both plants are traditionally grown in the UK and so encourage native wildlife. |
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Once harvested energy crops can be burnt for heating or hot water or to generate electricity. Woody crops can also be processed into pellets, to produce an easier to handle and clean burning fuel that can be used in stoves or conventional central heating systems. The pellet stove shown here was installed in the National Energy Centre in 2003 as part of the Logpile project.
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