Energy willow photo gallery
Energy willow – general information
The reason for the successful production of energy willow is its high prolificacy and productivity, as well as a high environmental tolerance – the plant may be grown in positions which are not suitable for growing other species. High productivity in combination with the low energy consumption of production and relatively low amounts of work in the biomass acquisition process mean that production can be very profitable. Energy willow is a perennial plant, growing on almost every soil. It is ideal for growing in fallow, flood and degraded lands. The plant has unusual annual wood mass increments – approx. 14 times bigger than those of a natural forest. The average annual one-hectare crop ranges from 15 to 30 tons of wood with a calorific value of approx. 15 - 20 MJ per kilogram. Except for particular care in the first year, the year of establishment, the plantation requires almost no agro-technical operations (very intensive herbicide protection is required in the first year after planting, in the following years the large amount of shrubs hinders weed growth). The cutting takes roots very quickly. The annual pruning of suckers increases the growth of the plant. After 3 years, approx. 30 suckers grow out of the rootstock. The diameter of a single sucker is from 2 to 4 cm. The energetic usability of energy willow is very high. The plantation productivity lasts for more than 20 years.
This fast growing species of shrubby willows is an energetic raw material that allows the generation of energy in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The biomass obtained in the manufacturing process can be used as both an original fuel – obtained by combustion, and a secondary fuel – bio-methanol and wood distillation gas. The energy value of shrubby willow is comparable to that of fine coal. With its entirely ecological combustion process parameters and possible industrial renewable production, it is becoming the fuel of the future for Polish agriculture, the power industry and business. This arises from the new Energy Law and the European Union standards applicable in Poland, as well as an attractive energy generation price, which is two times lower than that of carbon and three times lower than that obtained from crude oil or gas.
Plant origin:
The shrubby willow is a typical Polish plant, perfectly adapted to our climatic and soil conditions. It originates from specially selected clones with the highest wood mass increments.
Plant description:
Energy willow is a perennial plant, growing on almost every soil. Ideal for this purpose are fallow lands and flood lands, mainly for the economic reasons. The plant has unusual annual wood mass increments – approx. 14 times bigger than those of a natural forest. The average annual one-hectare crop ranges from 15 to 30 tons. Except for particular care in the first year, the plantation requires almost no agro-technical operations during further cultivation. The cutting takes roots very quickly. The annual pruning of suckers increases the growth of the plant. After 3 years, approx. 30 suckers grow out of the rootstock. The diameter of suckers is from 2 to 4 cm. The plant is also used as natural hedges due to its fast increment and large height. Besides, it is used as a natural protection against snowstorms and isolation from communication routes. It is an excellent flood protection and finds application at biological sewage treatment plants.
Conditions of Polish agriculture:
The decrease in the profitability of conventional forms of agricultural production, the restructuring of Polish agriculture, an increase in ecological awareness of the society, changes in legislation in connection with the adjustment of Polish law to the EU law, financial support for pro-ecological investments provided by EU, make energy willow production very prospective.
Growing it for energetic purposes is not labour-intensive and brings a certain profit to a farmer. Cultivation of energetic plants on agricultural lands does not increase overproduction of food and, at the same time, provides farmers with a profitable production and constantly growing profit with reference to the increase in prices of conventional energetic raw materials in the world.
Energetic conditions:
The progressing devastation and degradation of the environment, concerns about the depletion of mineral fuels have created an interest in alternative sources of energy. The cultivation of energetic plants, which are a raw material for the production of fuels with a zero carbon dioxide balance, is becoming more and more popular in Europe. The only hope is the renewable energy sources (biomass, wind, sun and water), which provide ecologically clean renewable energy. The availability of suitable amounts of wind, sun and water depends on geographical conditions. Due to the low potential force of wind, water and sun and the large acreage of agricultural lands, the ideal solution for Polish conditions is the production of BIOMASS-based energy.
The new Polish Energetic Law (Law Journal No 122, item 1336, Ordinance of the Minister of Economy of December 12th, 2000) forces the power distribution companies to purchase electric energy from renewable sources with its growing share from 2.4% in 2001 to 7.5% in 2010.
According to the estimates of PSE – ELEKTRA Sp. z o.o., up to 250 GWh of energy from renewable sources is lacking in order to ensure fulfilment of the purchase obligation in Poland.
Calorific value:
The energy value of shrubby willow is comparable to that of fine coal. With its entirely ecological combustion process parameters and possible industrial renewable production, it is becoming the fuel of the future for the Polish agriculture, power industry and business. This arises from the new Energy Law and the European Union standards applicable in Poland, as well as low energy generation price, which is two times lower than that of carbon and three times lower than that obtained from crude oil or gas.
CALORIFIC FUEL VALUE COST OF HEAT UNIT AT FUEL PURCHASE GJ/t or GJ/1 m3PLN/ t or PLN/ 1 m3PLN/ GJHEATING OIL43,0New data New data NATURAL GAS38.0HARD COAL 26. 0FINE COAL21. 0SHRUBBY WILLOW CHIPS (dry matter)19.36
Energy willow burning
Energy willow chips can be burnt in conventional coal boilers, which is an ideal recipe for an immediate reduction in the heating costs and emission of harmful substances, without the need to replace the existing boiler for a new one. The replacement into the specialist stove, which uses pyrolytic distillation (generation of wood distillation gas), allows the burning process to be automated and the room temperature to be adjusted automatically. The thermal efficiency of these boilers is approx. 90%. SPECMOT sells the equipment and provides counselling for the replacement of the central-heating stove into the wood one. The monthly cost of heating a house (150 m²) ranges from PLN 200 to PLN 400, depending of the building heat insulation, and in the case of having one’s own plantation, the heating is free. It is possible to apply for financial aid from various funds when changing the boiler room into the ecological one, i.e. wood-fired.
Establishment of plantation:
Almost any lands can be used for growing energy willow, however the correct plantation output of 15 to 30 tons is obtained from arable lands and third- and four-class lands. The land should be weeded and prepared by ploughing and harrowing.
Cuttings of approx. 22 cm in length are planted into the prepared plantation soil. The planting depth should be approx. 20 cm so that the plant sticks out 2-3 cm above the surface. The planting is carried out in late autumn or early spring. Doing it at a later time gives fewer increments in the first year. Cuttings should be planted at intervals of 0.33 m and a space of 0.75 m should be left between individual rows.
When establishing the plantation on large acreages, 1.5 m of free space should be left between every 2 rows to allow harvesting with a specialist combine. The harvest then takes place every 2-3 years.
The plantation nurturing takes place in the first year only. It is weeding (weeds cannot be bigger than the cutting).
Energy willow is pruned when the leaves fall, from late autumn until early spring. After the first year you can obtain your own cuttings to be used for the plantation extension. The harvest for cuttings is carried out manually using a pair of secateurs. The energy willow twigs are divided into cuttings of approx. 22 cm in length, which are then planted into the soil.
Harvest for fuel:
The most profitable harvest for fuel may take place every year, every two years or every three years (then increments become proportionally smaller and smaller). The harvest is carried out manually or mechanically.
For harvesting 2- or 3-year-old plants with a thickness of hardened sprout of more than 3 cm it is necessary to use a machine with an undercut saw so that the sprouts are sawn off rather than cut off, which could result in tearing them up. The manual harvest using a pair of secateurs, chain saw, bar-type mower or manual single-row mower ensures that the plant is cut without being ground. Grinding may take place immediately on the field or after the sprouts are brought into the processing plant. Plants harvested using a specialist combine are already ground. By purchasing the cuttings from us and signing the procurement contract, you have the guarantee that your crop will be harvested by Specmot and you will be not compelled to buy any machines.
Market for energy willow:
Individual recipients – fuel for wood-fired central-heating stoves and fireplaces.
County Offices, schools, institutions, which replace their boiler rooms with the ecological, wood-fired ones, taking advantage of subsidies reaching up to 70% of the boiler room cost.
Sales through the agency of the company the procurement contract is reached with. Right now heat and power generating plants are searching for suppliers and they are interested in regular deliveries. One plant makes use of a 500 to 1000 ha plantation. They are forced to do so by the Energetic Law.
Additional advantages of growing energy willow
The production of energy willow creates opportunities for the development of local rural societies – it may become an important branch of both the business and agricultural activity. The cultivation and use of this raw material is very advantageous from the point of view of environmental protection, utilisation of fallow lands, reclamation of degraded lands, and rehabilitation of contaminated lands. On account of the need to restructure the power distribution companies to reduce the emission of harmful substances into the environment the cultivation of this plant is very prospective.
In addition to the ecological basis, the production of plant fuels is also substantiated both economically – it can be profitable, and socially by the economic activation of rural areas, creating new workplaces, and thus reduction in unemployment.