Guaranteed demand – This is the consequence of the obligation to increase the share of energy from biomass in the total energy balance.

1. The progressing devastation and degradation of the environment, concerns about the depletion of mineral fuels cause the 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.

2. The new European Union regulations concerning the climate and power policy impose an obligation on the member states to limit the emission of greenhouse gasses and, at the same time, to increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy balance. In accordance with the commitments taken on, in Poland the share of this energy in the original consumption is to amount to 7.5% in 2010 and 15% in 2020. Taking into account that this index is now approx. 4.5%, it is a serious challenge. It needs to be kept in mind that if the level specified in these commitments fails to be reached, Poland will have to purchase the so-called green certificates from the countries showing a surplus of renewable energy production. It would be a paradoxical situation inasmuch as our country has a really big potential in energetic agriculture due to the fact that, on the one hand, we have a relatively low demand for energy and, on the other hand, we are the third EU country, after France and Germany, with regard to the amount of cultivated land resources.

3. In this situation, the Polish government, determined by the need to fulfil the obligations imposed on our country to increase the share of RES (renewable energy sources) in the general energy consumption and ensure a permanent increase in the amount of energy from the energetic plantations, took a decision to financially support the investments allowing the achievement of the assumed goals.

4. The main sources of financing are, depending on the nature and size of the project: The Infrastructure and Environment Operational Programme, 16 regional operational programmes, and the Sector Rural Areas Development Programme. Regardless of the foregoing, the commercial banks offer loans on preferential terms for the establishment of energetic plantations. Also, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management offers preferential loans and the EcoFund foundation offers special grants for entrepreneurs who are interested in projects like this.

5. It appears from the foregoing that there is no fear of a lack of demand for the production of raw materials from energetic plants as it is guaranteed. The problem is almost zero supply, which seems to be the consequence of an unsuccessful information campaign from several years ago, which promoted, among other things, growing energy willow, but did not make the potential planters aware that its production would be profitable, however time was needed to make a profit. Unprepared for the new cultivation, with no knowledge, skills, technology and equipment, the farmers expected that they would make a quick profit on small acreages by producing mainly cuttings as, in their opinion, the most profitable business. Yet, growing energy willow is a profitable business for those who have suitably large land resources, want to invest today and wait for the guaranteed, stable for at least 20 years profits that will occur in the third year after the establishment of their plantation.