Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow self supply at Gurteen College, Co. Tipperary

Mike Pearson, Principal of Gurteen College with his SRC willow crop.

This case study provides details of how to properly grow and use short rotation coppice (SRC) woodchip in a medium scale district heating scheme. Gurteen Agricultural College grows 30 hectares of SRC and dries the woodchip produced before it is used to fuel 2 x 300 kilowatt biomass boilers. This project has followed best practice procedures at every stage and is an exemplar case study.

Mike Pearson, Principal of the colege is speaking at the Rokwood training course at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester on 30th April 2015.

Gurteen case study

About Kevin Lindegaard

Kevin Lindegaard has 21 years experience working in the field of energy crops and renewable energy. His knowledge is very widespread covering policy, biomass production, processing, logistics and end use. He has intimate knowledge of the energy crops sector at the micro scale as well as the bigger picture. His work is well respected in the UK and abroad. Since 2015 he has been a Director of Wood Heat Association (the UK trade body) providing input on energy crops and non-woody sources of biomass. He spent 7 years working at Long Ashton Research Station as the plant breeder in charge of the European Willow Breeding Programme. He was responsible for breeding high yielding and disease resistant willow varieties including: Beagle, Quest, Resolution, Discovery, Terra Nova, Nimrod and Endeavour. Other posts include spells with the Swedish company Lantmannen Agroenergi and its UK offshoot Renewable Fuels, the Renewable Energy Development Officer at Dorset County Council and the Centre of Sustainable Energy in Bristol. He set up Crops for Energy in 2004.

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Case Studies

Beuchte Energy Village
A district heating system was established in the small village of Beuchte in 2008. The heat is produced in two 250 kW furnaces using woodchips which are produced from local SRP poplar by a local farmer. The first SRPs were established in 2009. Today more than 30 hectares of SRP are grown within a …
Umberleigh Barton Farm
Umberleigh Barton Farm is a working mixed farm situated in North Devon. The owners of the farm business have installed a biomass boiler to supply space and water heating to the various buildings on site. As a result the farm is no longer dependent on the fluctuating costs of heating oil. The Umberleigh Barton Farm …
Tredethick Farm Cottages
Tredethick Farm Cottages located in Lostwithiel, Cornwall is using miscanthus grass as a fuel to provide district heating to 8 holiday lets, a farmhouse and a swimming pool. Crops for Energy was commissioned by the farm owner/proprietor Tim Reed to assist in the initial feasibility study and subsequent management of …
Folly Farm
Folly Farm is a learning centre based near Chew Valley Lake which is owned and managed by the Avon Wildlife Trust. The farmhouse and outbuildings date from the late 17th to early 20th century and underwent a complete redevelopment between 2006 and 2008. The chosen biomass system was a 150 …
Wills Barn, Yeo Valley Organic
This case study provides details of a domestic scale biomass boiler in a low energy building used for educational visits, training and conferences. Wills Barn, which is owned by Yeo Valley Organic, is a 250 year old limestone building that was renovated between 2006 and 2008. It is not connected …

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